Table (landform) facts for kids
A table landform is a type of mountain or hill that has a very flat top, like a table. It also has steep sides. You might hear different names for these cool landforms around the world.
What is a Tuya?
A tuya (say "TOO-yah") is a special type of table landform. It forms when a volcano erupts under a thick sheet of ice or a glacier. The hot lava melts the ice above it. This melted lava then spreads out and cools, creating a flat top. The sides become very steep where the lava touched the ice.
What is a Tepui?
A tepui (say "TEP-wee") is another type of table landform. These are found in South America. Unlike tuyas, tepuis form in a different way. Imagine a huge area of soft rock with a very hard rock inside it. Over millions of years, wind and rain slowly wear away the softer rock. This process is called erosion. The harder rock resists erosion and is left standing tall as an isolated mountain with a flat top.
One famous tepui is Auyán-tepui in Venezuela. It is known because the amazing Angel Falls, the world's tallest waterfall, flows from its top. Angel Falls is 19 times taller than Niagara Falls!
Other Table Landforms
Many other names describe landforms that look like tables. They all share the main features of a flat top and steep sides. Here are some of them:
Table Mountain in South Africa is a very famous example of a table landform. It is a well-known landmark.
Images for kids
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A mesa in Monument Valley in Navajo Nation.
