The highest plateau in the world is the Tibetan Plateau, a huge highland surface in Asia with an average elevation often given as more than 4,500 meters above sea level. It is not just the highest large plateau; it is also the largest high plateau on Earth.
Other very high plateau regions include the Qiangtang in northern Tibet, the Deosai Plateau in northern Pakistan, the Altiplano-Puna Plateau of the central Andes, and the Puna de Atacama in Argentina and Chile. Their rankings can change depending on whether a source counts only broad continental plateaus, smaller alpine plains, or subregions inside a larger plateau.
| Plateau or High Plateau Region | Main Location | Approximate Elevation | Main Landform Type | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tibetan Plateau | China, with edges reaching parts of South and Central Asia | Often above 4,500 m on average | Huge tectonic high plateau | Highest and largest plateau on Earth |
| Qiangtang / Changtang | Northern Tibetan Plateau | Often described as above 5,000 m in many areas | Cold alpine basin and plateau surface | One of the highest broad plateau surfaces within Tibet |
| Deosai Plateau | Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan | About 4,114 m average; roughly 3,500–5,200 m across the park area | High alpine plateau | One of the highest smaller plateaus in the world |
| Puna de Atacama | Northwestern Argentina and northern Chile | Roughly 3,300–4,500 m, depending on the defined area | Arid Andean tableland with basins and volcanic fields | High desert plateau, salt basins, volcanic landscapes |
| Altiplano / Andean Plateau | Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Argentina | About 3,650–3,800 m in many descriptions | Intermontane plateau between Andean ranges | Lake Titicaca, Salar de Uyuni, high Andean cities |
| Pamir High Plateau Region | Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, China | Many areas above 4,000 m | Mountain knot with high valleys and plateau-like basins | High Central Asian terrain near the meeting of major ranges |
Elevation Note: A plateau ranking should use average surface elevation, not the height of nearby peaks. A mountain summit can rise far above a plateau without making the whole plateau that high.
What Counts as One of the Highest Plateaus?
A plateau is a raised landform with a broad surface that stands higher than nearby terrain. It may be flat, gently rolling, deeply cut by rivers, or broken by basins and mountain ridges. The word does not mean “perfectly flat.”
For the highest plateaus, three details matter most:
- Average elevation: the general height of the plateau surface.
- Size: whether the plateau is a huge continental highland or a smaller alpine plain.
- Boundary: where the plateau begins and ends on maps.
This is why the Tibetan Plateau is easy to name as the highest large plateau, while the second, third, and fourth places need more careful wording. Some sources rank Deosai very high because it is a high alpine plain. Others focus on the Altiplano-Puna because it is much larger and forms a major Andean plateau system.
The Tibetan Plateau: The Highest and Largest Plateau on Earth
The Tibetan Plateau, also called the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, sits across a vast part of central and eastern Asia. Its average elevation is often described as more than 4,500 meters, with a total area of about 2.5 million square kilometers in many standard references.
It lies north of the Himalayas and south of major interior Asian basins and deserts. The plateau includes large parts of Tibet and Qinghai, with related highland margins reaching toward Sichuan, Xinjiang, Gansu, Ladakh, Nepal, Bhutan, and nearby mountain regions.
Why the Tibetan Plateau Is So High
The Tibetan Plateau formed mainly from the long collision between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. As India moved northward, the crust thickened, folded, faulted, and rose. The Himalayas rose along the southern edge, while a huge interior highland surface lifted behind them.
This makes the Tibetan Plateau a tectonic plateau. It is not a lava sheet plateau like parts of the Deccan Plateau, and it is not only an eroded tableland. Its height comes from crustal thickening and uplift on a very large scale.
Mountains Around the Tibetan Plateau
The Tibetan Plateau is framed by some of the highest mountain systems on Earth. The Himalayas form its southern rim. The Karakoram and Pamir connect with its western side. The Kunlun Mountains mark much of the northern edge, while the Qilian Mountains and other ranges shape the northeastern margin.
These ranges help explain why the plateau has such strong climate contrasts. Moisture from the south is blocked by the Himalayas, while interior basins to the north are much drier.
Rivers That Begin on or Near the Tibetan Plateau
The Tibetan Plateau is a major highland water source. Several large Asian river systems begin on, near, or along its margins. These include the Indus, Brahmaputra system, Yangtze, Yellow River, Mekong, and Salween.
This does not mean every part of the plateau drains outward. Some northern and interior areas contain closed basins, salt lakes, and seasonal streams. That mix of outward-flowing rivers and internal basins is one of the plateau’s clearest map features.
Qiangtang / Changtang: The Very High Northern Tibetan Surface
The Qiangtang, also known in many contexts as the Changtang, is the high northern part of the Tibetan Plateau. It is often described as a broad alpine basin and upland surface above 5,000 meters in many areas.
It sits between the Kunlun Mountains to the north and the Tanggula and Nyainqêntanglha ranges to the south and southeast. Its western side grades toward the Pamirs and high western Tibet.
Why Qiangtang Is Hard to Rank Separately
Qiangtang is not usually treated as a separate continent-scale plateau outside Tibet. It is better understood as a high subregion of the Tibetan Plateau. That matters because a list of the highest plateaus can count it in two ways:
- As part of the Tibetan Plateau, which keeps Tibet as the clear highest large plateau.
- As a named plateau-like region inside Tibet, which makes Qiangtang one of the highest broad plateau surfaces on Earth.
Its landscape includes cold steppe, alpine desert, brackish lakes, frozen ground in many areas, and wide basins with limited river drainage.
Map Note: On a physical map, Qiangtang appears less like a single flat tabletop and more like a high, cold interior basin zone within the larger Tibetan Plateau.
Deosai Plateau: A High Alpine Plateau in Northern Pakistan
The Deosai Plateau lies in Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan, between the Skardu and Astore areas. It sits east of Nanga Parbat and close to the western Himalayan and central Karakoram region.
Deosai is often described as having an average elevation of about 4,114 meters. The wider protected area includes land roughly between 3,500 and 5,200 meters. This makes it one of the highest smaller plateau landscapes in the world.
What Makes Deosai Different
Deosai is not as large as the Tibetan Plateau or the Altiplano-Puna system. Its importance comes from its very high alpine plain, rolling terrain, wetlands, streams, and seasonal access. It is a plateau at mountain scale, not a vast continental highland.
The land is open, cold, and exposed. Snow can cover it for much of the year, and summer brings marshy grassland, lakes, streams, and short alpine growing seasons.
Rivers, Lakes and Basins of Deosai
Deosai includes high-altitude wetlands and streams that feed local drainage systems around Skardu and Astore. Sheosar Lake is one of its best-known alpine lakes, while the plains are also crossed by streams such as Bara Pani.
The plateau works like a high water-storage surface. Snow, meltwater, marshes, and streams connect the landform to nearby valleys.
Altiplano-Puna Plateau: The Highest Large Plateau Outside Tibet
The Altiplano-Puna Plateau of the central Andes is the highest large plateau system outside the Tibetan region. It stretches across parts of Bolivia, Peru, Chile, and Argentina, where the Andes widen into two main mountain belts with high basins between them.
The northern part is commonly called the Altiplano. The southern, drier and more volcanic part is often called the Puna or Puna de Atacama, depending on the area being discussed.
How the Altiplano-Puna Formed
The Altiplano-Puna formed with the rise of the central Andes. Crustal shortening, uplift, volcanism, faulting, and basin formation all helped build the high plateau surface.
Unlike Tibet, which formed from a continent-to-continent collision, the Andes rose along the western edge of South America above a subduction zone. This difference matters because it helps explain the region’s volcanic arcs, salt basins, and long north-south mountain belts.
Altiplano: High Basin Between Andean Ranges
The Altiplano lies mainly in Bolivia and Peru, with margins reaching Chile and Argentina. Its average elevation is often placed around 3,650 to 3,800 meters.
It is bounded by the Cordillera Occidental to the west and the Cordillera Oriental to the east. This creates a high intermontane basin where large lakes, salt flats, and cities sit far above sea level.
Lake Titicaca, on the Peru-Bolivia border, sits at about 3,810 meters. Salar de Uyuni, one of the best-known salt flats in Bolivia, lies on the Altiplano at about 3,656 meters.
Puna de Atacama: A Higher, Drier Andean Plateau
The Puna de Atacama lies mainly in northwestern Argentina and adjacent northern Chile. It is a cold, arid high plateau with many basins, salt flats, volcanic cones, and dry mountain corridors.
Its elevation is often described within a rough range of 3,300 to 4,500 meters, depending on how the plateau is defined. Some high Puna surfaces sit above 4,000 meters, which places them among the highest dry plateau landscapes on Earth.
The Puna is more rugged and basin-like than the northern Altiplano. Its climate is also much drier, partly because mountain barriers and distance from moisture sources limit rainfall.
Pamir High Plateau Region: High but Not a Simple Tableland
The Pamir region lies near the meeting point of the Tian Shan, Karakoram, Kunlun, Hindu Kush, and Himalayan systems. It includes parts of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, and China.
Many parts of the Pamir region sit above 4,000 meters, and the area includes broad high valleys, basins, mountain plateaus, glaciers, and rugged peaks. For that reason, it often appears in discussions of the world’s highest highlands.
Still, the Pamirs are not as cleanly defined as a flat plateau. They are better described as a mountain knot with plateau-like basins. This is why some lists include the Pamir Plateau, while stricter landform lists treat it as a high mountain region rather than a classic plateau.
How the Highest Plateaus Compare
| Feature | Tibetan Plateau | Deosai Plateau | Altiplano-Puna | Pamir Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scale | Huge continental plateau | Smaller alpine plateau | Large Andean plateau system | High mountain and basin region |
| Main Formation | India-Eurasia collision and crustal uplift | High mountain uplift, erosion and alpine basin development | Andean uplift, crustal shortening, volcanism and basins | Collision-zone mountain building and high basin formation |
| Typical Surface | Broad uplands, basins, lakes, ranges and river headwaters | Rolling alpine plain with wetlands, streams and lakes | High basins, salt flats, volcanic fields and lakes | High valleys, glaciers, ranges and plateau-like basins |
| Climate Pattern | Cold, dry to semi-arid in many interior areas; wetter margins in places | Cold alpine climate with snow and short summers | Cold highland; arid to semi-arid, especially in the Puna | Cold mountain and alpine desert conditions in many areas |
| Map Clue | Large raised zone north of the Himalayas | Small high plain in northern Pakistan | High basin belt inside the central Andes | High terrain where several Asian ranges meet |
Why High Plateaus Shape Climate
High plateaus change climate because elevation lowers temperature and changes air pressure. Even in sunny regions, nights can be cold because the land sits far above sea level.
Large plateaus also affect winds and rainfall. Mountain rims can block moisture, while raised surfaces can cool air and create dry interior basins. This is why many of the highest plateaus include cold deserts, alpine steppe, salt lakes, and seasonal wetlands.
The same plateau may have several climate zones. A wet mountain edge, a dry interior basin, and a river valley can all exist within the same highland system.
Why High Plateaus Matter for Rivers and Basins
Many high plateaus act as water towers. Snow, glaciers, wetlands, and high lakes store water and release it into rivers. The Tibetan Plateau is the clearest example because so many major Asian rivers are linked to it.
Other high plateaus are more internally drained. The Altiplano-Puna includes salt flats and closed basins where water does not reach the sea. Instead, it evaporates, leaves minerals behind, and forms salars.
This is a simple way to read high plateaus on maps:
- If rivers flow outward from the plateau, it may feed large river systems.
- If basins are closed, the plateau may contain salt lakes, salars, or dry lake beds.
- If mountain rims surround the plateau, climate and drainage can change sharply over short distances.
Highest Plateaus vs Highest Mountains
A high plateau is not the same as a high mountain. A mountain is a raised landform with steep slopes and a summit. A plateau is a raised landform with a broad surface.
This distinction matters. Mount Everest rises above the southern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, but Everest is not the plateau itself. The plateau’s ranking comes from the general height of its land surface, not from the tallest peak nearby.
Common Mix-Up: The highest point in a plateau region and the average elevation of the plateau are different measurements. Rankings based on peaks can give a misleading picture.
Other High Plateaus Often Mentioned
Several other plateaus are high, famous, or very large, but they usually rank below the top highland group by average elevation.
Colorado Plateau
The Colorado Plateau in the southwestern United States is known for canyons, mesas, buttes, cliffs, and deeply cut river systems. Its elevation is much lower than Tibet or the Altiplano-Puna, but it is one of the clearest examples of an eroded tableland landscape.
Iranian Plateau
The Iranian Plateau covers a broad highland zone between the Zagros, Alborz, Hindu Kush and surrounding regions. It is large and dry in many areas, but its average elevation is generally lower than the highest plateau group.
Armenian Highland
The Armenian Highland is a volcanic and tectonic highland in western Asia. It includes high mountains, lava plateaus, basins, and large lakes such as Lake Van, Lake Sevan, and Lake Urmia. Its average elevation is often described around 1,500 to 2,000 meters, so it is high but not among the very highest plateaus by average surface height.
Ethiopian Highlands
The Ethiopian Highlands include raised volcanic terrain, deep valleys, escarpments, and high peaks. They are sometimes called a high plateau region, but the land is strongly dissected and varied. Their average elevation is lower than Tibet, Deosai, and the central Andean high plateaus.
Simple Ranking Rule for the Highest Plateaus
For a clear geography answer, use this rule:
- Tibetan Plateau is the highest and largest plateau on Earth.
- Qiangtang / Changtang is one of the highest plateau-like surfaces within the Tibetan Plateau.
- Deosai is one of the highest smaller alpine plateaus.
- Altiplano-Puna is the highest large plateau system outside Tibet.
- Puna de Atacama is among the highest dry plateau landscapes, especially in its higher basins.
This ranking is more useful than a single rigid list because it separates huge plateaus, subregions, and smaller alpine plains.
FAQ
What is the highest plateau in the world?
The highest plateau in the world is the Tibetan Plateau. Its average elevation is often given as more than 4,500 meters above sea level, and it covers a huge area across central and eastern Asia.
Is the Tibetan Plateau higher than the Altiplano?
Yes. The Tibetan Plateau is higher on average than the Altiplano. The Altiplano commonly sits around 3,650 to 3,800 meters, while the Tibetan Plateau is often described as averaging more than 4,500 meters.
Is Deosai the second highest plateau in the world?
Deosai is often called one of the highest smaller plateaus in the world, with an average elevation around 4,114 meters. Some sources describe it as the second highest after the Tibetan or Changtang region, but it is much smaller than the major continental plateaus.
What is the highest plateau outside Asia?
The highest large plateau system outside Asia is the Altiplano-Puna Plateau in the central Andes of South America. It extends across Bolivia, Peru, Chile, and Argentina, with many areas above 3,500 meters.
Why are some plateaus so high?
Very high plateaus usually form through tectonic uplift, crustal thickening, mountain building, volcanism, or a mix of these processes. The Tibetan Plateau rose mainly from the collision between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate.
How is a plateau different from a mountain?
A mountain has a summit and steep slopes, while a plateau has a broad raised surface. A plateau can have mountains on it or around it, but its identity comes from the wide elevated land surface.