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Major Plateaus of the World with Location
A plateau is an elevated area with a more or less levelled land on its top. It has a large area on its top and a steep slope on its sides.
The plateaus cover about 18% of the earth's land surface and also called as high plains or tablelands.
Valleys form when river water cuts through the plateau. The Columbia Plateau, between the Cascade and Rocky mountains in the northwestern United States, is cut through by the Columbia River.
Plateau are rich in mineral deposits, Iron ore and coal often are found in their outliers.
| Name of Plateau | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tibetan Plateau | Central Asia | Average Height: 5 km above sea level. "Roof of the World", largest and highest |
| Columbia - Snake Plateau | Washington, Oregon, and Idaho (USA) | - |
| Pamir Plateau | Tajikistan | - |
| Colorado Plateau | Southwestern part of USA | - |
| Deccan Plateau | India | volcanic basalt beds |
| Kimberley Plateau | Western Australia | volcanic, mineral deposits |
| Katanga Plateau (Shaba) | Democratic Republic of the "Congo" | copper and uranium deposits |
| Kerguelen Plateau | South-west of Australia, Indian Ocean | largest 'undersea' plateau |
| Mascarene Plateau | North-east of Madagascar, Indian Ocean | second largest 'undersea' plateau |
| Laurentian Plateau (Canadian Shield) | Canada | igneous and high-grade metamorphic rocks, iron-ore |
| Mexican Plateau | Mexico | world's biggest silver mine i.e. "Chihuahua" |
| Patagonian Plateau | Argentina | desert, sheep rearing |
| Altiplano Plateau (Collao or Andean Plateau) | West-central South America - Bolivia, Peru, Chile | 'tin' reserves |
| Massif Central | France | grapes cultivation |
| Anatolian Plateau (Asia Minor) | Turkey | Angora goats |
| Iberian Plateau (Meseta Central) | Spain | best quality iron |
| Loess Plateau (Huangtu Plateau) | China | highly erodible soil |
| Pothohar Plateau | Pakistan | - |
| Bavarian Plateau (Alpine Foreland) | Germany | variety of landforms |
| Ahaggar Plateau (Hoggar) | Algeria | black volcanic (basalt) |
