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Global landform reference

Major Plateaus and Plateau-Like Uplands of the World

A structured geography reference for comparing 50 major plateaus, tablelands, uplands, highland regions and one submarine plateau by continent, location, landform classification, formation, geographic setting and present-day surface form.

Open the 50-region table Browse by continent

50curated reference regions

7continent sections

3classification dimensions

37mapped location keys

Global plateau map37 location keys from the 50-region reference table

Map Summary

North America: Colorado, Columbia, Mexican, Appalachian, Ozark and Edwards plateau systems, Llano Estacado and northern uplands.

South America: Altiplano, Puna de Atacama, Brazilian and Guiana highlands, Patagonian and Mato Grosso plateau regions.

Europe: Iberian Meseta, Massif Central, Central Russian Upland, Swiss Plateau and Bohemian-Moravian Highlands.

Africa: Ethiopian Highlands, East African Plateau, Highveld, Bié, Jos, Fouta Djallon, Ahaggar and Katanga uplands.

Asia: Tibetan, Iranian, Deccan, Mongolian, Loess, Anatolian, Armenian, Arabian, Central Siberian and other major plateau systems.

Australia and Antarctica: Western Plateau, Barkly and Atherton tablelands, Nullarbor Plain, Kimberley Plateau and the ice-covered Antarctic Plateau.

This map is non-interactive and does not require hover, touch or JavaScript. The numbered points are location keys rather than a ranking. The table below provides the same location information for keyboard and screen-reader users.

Open the accessible map location table

Key	Mapped region	Continent
1	Colorado Plateau	North America
2	Columbia Plateau	North America
3	Mexican Plateau	North America
4	Ozark Plateau	North America
5	Appalachian Plateau	North America
6	Yukon-Tanana Upland	North America
7	Altiplano	South America
8	Brazilian Highlands	South America
9	Guiana Highlands	South America
10	Patagonian Plateau	South America
11	Massif Central	Europe
12	Iberian Meseta	Europe
13	Anatolian Plateau	Asia
14	Central Russian Upland	Europe
15	Bohemian-Moravian Highlands and Swiss Plateau region	Europe
16	Ethiopian Highlands	Africa
17	South African Highveld	Africa
18	Bié Plateau	Africa
19	Fouta Djallon	Africa
20	East African Plateau	Africa
21	Armenian Plateau	Asia
22	Iranian Plateau	Asia
23	Tibetan / Qinghai-Tibet Plateau	Asia
24	Deccan Plateau	Asia
25	Arabian Plateau	Asia
26	Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau	Asia
27	Mongolian Plateau	Asia
28	Loess Plateau	Asia
29	Central Siberian Plateau	Asia
30	Anatolia-Caucasus highlands	Asia
31	Pamir and high Central Asian plateau margins	Asia
32	Western Plateau	Australia
33	Barkly Tableland	Australia
34	Nullarbor Plain	Australia
35	Great Victoria uplands	Australia
36	Kimberley and Arnhem Land plateau country	Australia
37	Antarctic Plateau / East Antarctic Plateau	Antarctica

Selection Method and Review Status

The 50-region boundary is an editorial reference set, not a ranking and not an official count of every plateau on Earth.

Selection Criteria

Large geographic scale or strong regional landform identity
Scientific, educational or comparative value
Representation across seven continents and several plateau-related landform classes
Availability of dependable geographic and geological source material
Clear value for continent, country, formation and comparison pages

Review Information

List statusA curated reference list, not a ranking

Last reviewedJuly 13, 2026

Source frameworkNational geological surveys, Antarctic research institutions, official geographic gazetteers and peer-reviewed geomorphology literature

Terminology rulePlateaus, uplands, tablelands, highland regions, massifs and plateau-like plains are identified separately

Plateau Classification

Origin, geographic setting and present-day surface form describe different characteristics. They should not be presented as one set of mutually exclusive plateau types.

By Formation

Tectonic plateaus
Volcanic or lava plateaus
Erosional or residual plateaus

By Geographic Setting

Intermontane plateaus
Piedmont plateaus
Continental plateaus

By Surface Form

Dissected plateaus
Undissected or weakly dissected plateaus

A plateau may belong to more than one category because origin, geographic setting and present-day surface form describe different characteristics.

Curated global reference set

50 Major Plateau and Plateau-Like Regions

Entries are arranged for reference rather than importance. The classification column separates plateaus from uplands, tablelands, highland regions, a massif, a plateau-like plain, an ice-covered continental plateau and a submarine plateau.

50Regions

Region	Continent / region	Main location	Landform classification	Formation, setting and surface form	Why included
Tibetan / Qinghai-Tibet Plateau	Asia	China, Tibet, Qinghai and the Himalayan margin	Plateau	Tectonic origin; intermontane setting; strongly dissected margins	Largest and highest extensive high plateau and a central example of continental collision.
Iranian Plateau	Asia	Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and neighboring uplands	Plateau	Tectonic origin; intermontane basins; arid and dissected surfaces	A major Southwest Asian plateau system linking several mountain belts and interior basins.
Deccan Plateau	Asia	Peninsular India	Plateau	Volcanic and shield origin; continental setting; dissected margins	A large basalt-dominated plateau with major influence on Indian drainage and regional geography.
Mongolian Plateau	Asia	Mongolia and northern China	Plateau	Tectonic and erosional development; continental setting; weakly dissected areas	Represents a broad cold continental upland and steppe plateau system.
Loess Plateau	Asia	North-central China	Plateau	Depositional and erosional development; continental setting; deeply dissected surface	A globally important example of thick windblown sediment transformed by severe erosion.
Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau	Asia	Southwest China	Plateau	Tectonic uplift and erosion; continental setting; karst and dissected surface	Included for its extensive karst, river incision and distinctive southwest Chinese upland landscape.
Anatolian Plateau	Asia	Central and eastern Türkiye	Plateau	Tectonic and volcanic origin; intermontane setting; basin-and-upland surface	A major plateau region between surrounding mountain systems and volcanic provinces.
Armenian Plateau	Asia	Eastern Türkiye, Armenia and nearby highlands	Highland region	Tectonic and volcanic origin; intermontane setting; strongly varied relief	A named highland-plateau system important to the geology and drainage of the South Caucasus and eastern Anatolia.
Arabian Plateau	Asia	Arabian Peninsula	Plateau	Tectonic uplift and erosion; continental setting; weakly dissected desert surfaces	Represents the elevated interior and escarpment systems of the Arabian Peninsula.
Central Siberian Plateau	Asia	Russia, between the Yenisei and Lena basins	Plateau	Volcanic and erosional development; continental setting; dissected surface	A vast ancient plateau strongly associated with Siberian flood basalts and major river basins.
Ustyurt Plateau	Asia	Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan	Plateau	Sedimentary and erosional development; continental setting; weakly dissected top	A distinct arid plateau with prominent escarpments between the Caspian and Aral regions.
Pamir Plateau and High Pamir	Asia	Tajikistan, Afghanistan, China and Kyrgyzstan	Highland region	Tectonic origin; intermontane setting; high-relief basins and uplands	Included as a high mountain plateau complex at the convergence of major Central Asian ranges.
Shan Plateau	Asia	Myanmar and mainland Southeast Asia	Plateau	Tectonic uplift and erosion; continental setting; limestone and dissected surface	A major Southeast Asian upland known for karst, river valleys and regional elevation contrast.
Khorat Plateau	Asia	Northeast Thailand and the Laos margin	Plateau	Sedimentary and erosional development; continental setting; low-relief surface	Represents a broad low plateau and basin system central to northeastern Thailand.
Chota Nagpur Plateau	Asia	Eastern India	Plateau	Ancient crystalline and erosional origin; continental setting; dissected surface	Included for its mineral resources, river headwaters and strong regional identity.
Malwa Plateau	Asia	Central India	Plateau	Volcanic origin; continental setting; moderately dissected surface	A regional lava-derived plateau linked to the Deccan volcanic province.
Ethiopian Highlands	Africa	Ethiopia and the Eritrean margin	Highland region	Volcanic and tectonic origin; continental setting; deeply dissected surface	A major African highland and river-source region shaped by uplift, volcanism and rifting.
East African Plateau	Africa	Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and nearby regions	Plateau	Tectonic uplift and volcanism; continental setting; rifted and dissected surface	Represents the broad uplifted terrain surrounding the East African Rift system.
South African Highveld	Africa	South Africa	Highland region	Erosional and tectonic development; continental setting; rolling upland surface	Included as a major interior upland forming part of southern Africa's plateau landscape.
Bié Plateau	Africa	Central Angola	Plateau	Ancient crystalline and erosional development; continental setting; dissected surface	A significant watershed and headwater region for several major African rivers.
Jos Plateau	Africa	Central Nigeria	Plateau	Volcanic, granitic and erosional development; continental setting; dissected surface	A prominent Nigerian upland with distinctive geology, elevation and regional importance.
Fouta Djallon	Africa	Guinea and West Africa	Highland region	Erosional development; continental setting; dissected highland surface	Included as a major West African headwater region for several transboundary rivers.
Ahaggar / Hoggar	Africa	Southern Algeria	Highland region	Volcanic and crystalline origin; continental desert setting; strongly dissected relief	A major Saharan upland whose high relief contrasts with surrounding desert plateaus.
Katanga Plateau	Africa	Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Zambia margin	Plateau	Ancient crystalline and erosional development; continental setting; rolling and dissected surface	Included for its mineral geology, watersheds and position within the southern African plateau system.
Colorado Plateau	North America	United States: Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico	Plateau	Tectonic uplift and erosion; continental setting; deeply dissected surface	A classic example of a dissected plateau with extensive canyon, mesa and escarpment landscapes.
Columbia Plateau	North America	Northwestern United States	Plateau	Volcanic origin; continental setting; dissected lava surface	One of the world's best-known flood-basalt plateaus and a major regional landform.
Mexican Plateau	North America	Northern and central Mexico	Plateau	Tectonic and erosional development; intermontane setting; basin-and-range surface	A broad interior upland between major mountain systems in Mexico.
Appalachian Plateau	North America	Eastern United States	Plateau	Tectonic uplift and erosion; piedmont-to-continental setting; deeply dissected surface	Included as a major physiographic province of the Appalachian region.
Ozark Plateau	North America	Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas	Plateau	Ancient uplift and erosion; continental setting; dissected surface	A long-established North American upland region with karst, valleys and resistant rock units.
Edwards Plateau	North America	Texas, United States	Plateau	Erosional development; continental setting; limestone and karst surface	A distinctive limestone plateau central to Texas hydrology and karst geography.
Llano Estacado	North America	Texas and New Mexico, United States	Tableland	Depositional and erosional development; continental setting; weakly dissected surface	Included as a broad, elevated tableland with a clear escarpment boundary on the High Plains.
Yukon-Tanana Upland	North America	Alaska and the Yukon region	Upland	Tectonic and erosional development; continental setting; strongly dissected surface	A named northern upland included to represent subarctic plateau-like terrain.
Altiplano	South America	Bolivia, Peru, Chile and Argentina	Plateau	Tectonic origin; intermontane setting; basin-and-volcanic surface	One of the world's highest extensive inhabited plateau regions and a core Andean landform.
Puna de Atacama	South America	Argentina and Chile	Plateau	Tectonic and volcanic origin; intermontane setting; arid basin-and-range surface	Included as a high, dry Andean plateau with major volcanic and salt-basin landscapes.
Brazilian Highlands	South America	Brazil	Highland region	Ancient shield and erosional development; continental setting; dissected surface	A vast upland complex that shapes Brazilian drainage, climate and settlement patterns.
Guiana Highlands	South America	Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and Brazil	Highland region	Ancient shield and erosional development; continental setting; tepui and dissected surfaces	Included for its exceptional table mountains, waterfalls and ancient shield geology.
Patagonian Plateau	South America	Southern Argentina	Plateau	Volcanic, sedimentary and erosional development; continental setting; stepped tableland surface	Represents the broad arid uplands and stepped surfaces of southern Argentina.
Mato Grosso Plateau	South America	Central Brazil	Plateau	Ancient shield and erosional development; continental setting; dissected watershed surface	Included as a major interior watershed and plateau region in central South America.
Iberian Meseta	Europe	Spain and Portugal	Plateau	Tectonic uplift and erosion; continental setting; broad interior surface	The dominant interior plateau of the Iberian Peninsula and a key European example.
Massif Central	Europe	France	Massif	Volcanic, crystalline and erosional development; continental setting; varied dissected surface	Included because large parts form an elevated plateau-like massif with strong volcanic and upland identity.
Central Russian Upland	Europe	Western Russia	Upland	Erosional development; continental setting; rolling and dissected surface	A named erosional upland included for its watershed role and plateau-like regional relief.
Swiss Plateau	Europe	Switzerland	Plateau	Depositional and erosional development; piedmont setting; rolling surface	A recognized foreland plateau between the Alps and Jura with major settlement and transport importance.
Bohemian-Moravian Highlands	Europe	Czech Republic	Highland region	Ancient crystalline and erosional development; continental setting; rolling and dissected surface	Included as an old watershed highland with plateau-like surfaces rather than a single uniform plateau.
Western Plateau	Australia	Western and central Australia	Plateau	Ancient shield and erosional development; continental setting; weakly dissected to rugged surface	The largest broad physiographic plateau region in Australia.
Barkly Tableland	Australia	Northern Territory and Queensland	Tableland	Sedimentary and erosional development; continental setting; low-relief surface	Included as a large savanna tableland with a clear regional physiographic identity.
Nullarbor Plain	Australia	South Australia and Western Australia	Plain with plateau characteristics	Limestone and erosional development; continental setting; very weakly dissected surface	Included because it is an elevated limestone platform commonly treated as a plateau-like plain.
Kimberley Plateau	Australia	Northwestern Australia	Plateau	Ancient sandstone and erosional development; continental setting; deeply dissected surface	A major Australian sandstone plateau with escarpments, gorges and strong regional identity.
Atherton Tableland	Australia	Queensland	Tableland	Volcanic and erosional development; continental setting; rolling and dissected surface	Included as a well-defined tropical tableland with volcanic soils and elevated terrain.
Antarctic Plateau / East Antarctic Plateau	Antarctica	Interior East Antarctica	Ice-covered continental plateau	Tectonic and ice-surface expression; continental setting; broad weakly dissected ice surface	Represents Antarctica's high interior; ice-surface elevation and underlying bedrock elevation must be reported separately.
Kerguelen Plateau	Southern Indian Ocean	Southern Indian Ocean, mostly submerged	Submarine plateau	Volcanic origin; oceanic setting; mostly submerged surface	Included as a major submarine volcanic plateau and an example of plateau terminology beyond exposed continents.

The table is not an official global count. Smaller local plateaus, mesas, tablelands and upland fragments extend far beyond these 50 entries. Names such as “highlands,” “upland,” “massif” and “plain” are retained where they reflect the established geographic identity of the region.

Main Reference Paths

Global, continental, national and classification pages provide separate routes into the same subject.

Global reference

World Plateaus

Major plateau regions, global distribution, elevation patterns and examples from seven continents.

Continent index

Plateaus by Continent

Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America, Australia and Antarctica in one consistent seven-continent system.

Country index

Plateaus by Country

Country-level references for named plateaus, tablelands, uplands and related elevated regions.

Classification

Types of Plateaus

Formation, geographic setting and surface form separated into three classification dimensions.

Elevation

Highest Plateaus

High-altitude plateau regions with clear distinctions between mean elevation, maximum elevation and surrounding relief.

Area

Largest Plateaus

Broad plateau systems compared by stated boundary, estimated area and physical geography.

Browse Plateaus by Continent

The site uses the seven-continent system consistently. Australia is used as the continent name; Oceania may appear only when a broader geographic region is explicitly intended.

Asia Africa Europe North America South America Australia Antarctica

Antarctic Plateau Terminology

Antarctica requires separate treatment because the visible high surface is an ice sheet above an underlying bedrock landscape.

Continental interior

Antarctic Plateau

A broad term for the high ice-covered interior of Antarctica.

Regional term

East Antarctic Plateau

The extensive high interior of East Antarctica, commonly discussed through ice-surface elevation, climate and ice-sheet research.

Measurement rule

Ice Surface and Bedrock

Ice-surface elevation and the elevation of the underlying bedrock must be stated separately because they describe different physical surfaces.

Country Reference Pages

Country pages connect named landforms with regional geology, drainage, elevation and geographic setting.

East Asia

Plateaus in China

Tibetan, Loess, Yunnan-Guizhou and other major Chinese plateau regions.

South Asia

Plateaus in India

Deccan, Malwa, Chota Nagpur, Mysore, Bundelkhand, Ladakh and northeastern plateau regions.

Anatolia

Plateaus in Türkiye

Central Anatolia, eastern highlands, intermontane basins, volcanic uplands and regional comparisons.

Africa

Plateaus in Ethiopia

Ethiopian Highlands, rift-related landscapes, rivers, elevation and regional landform identity.

North America

Plateaus in the United States

Colorado, Columbia, Appalachian, Ozark, Edwards and related United States upland regions.

Country directory

Global Country Index

Plateau and plateau-like landforms organized by country and geographic region.

Reference Structure

World and continent pages establish location and scale. Country pages add regional context. Classification pages separate origin, setting and surface form. Named-region pages provide details for individual plateaus, uplands, tablelands and highland systems.

What is a plateau? definition How plateaus form formation Plateau climate climate Plateaus and rivers drainage

Plateaus are not defined only by flatness. Many are dissected by rivers, bordered by escarpments, shaped by lava flows, raised by tectonics or enclosed between mountain systems.

Formation and Landform Comparisons

These pages separate plateau-forming processes from comparisons with mesas, mountains and plains.

Formation

Explore world plateaus by location and classification

Start with the global reference, then narrow the subject by continent, country, formation, geographic setting, surface form, elevation, area or named region.

Open the global reference