Best Plateau
Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park is a large protected natural area straddling the border of Alberta and Saskatchewan in western Canada. The park is geographically distinguished by its elevated plateau, which features dense lodgepole pine forests and fescue grasslands that rise notably above the su...
Why this score?
Highly scenic elevated plateau, diverse ecosystems, dark skies, trails, wildlife, and strong visitor ratings make it regionally exceptional.
Scoring methodology
The Altiplano is a vast, high-altitude plateau primarily located in southwest South America encompassing parts of Bolivia and Peru. Characterized by its semi-arid climate and expansive grasslands, it’s notable for supporting unique ecosystems and significant geological formations. It's a region of p...
Why this score?
High Andean plateau with extraordinary scenery, Indigenous culture, salt flats, and strong international recognition.
Scoring methodology
The Colorado Plateau Shrublands is a Level III ecoregion spanning the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States, covering parts of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. Characterized by its high elevation and arid climate, the landscape features dramatic canyons, mesas, and plateaus d...
Why this score?
Globally celebrated canyon landscapes, geological richness, and major protected areas drive exceptional regard; aridity, tourism pressure, and habitat disturbance are weaknesses.
Scoring methodology
The Simien Massif is a dramatic plateau massif located in northeastern Ethiopia. It’s recognized for its unique geology featuring deep valleys and dramatic cliffs. The area harbors several endemic animal species, most notably the gelada monkey, and represents a significant biodiversity hotspot. This...
The Coteau des Prairies is a prominent glacial plateau extending across parts of South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota. Composed primarily of glacial deposits, it rises distinctly above the surrounding flat plains and forms a geographic divide between the Red River valley and the Missouri River...
Why this score?
Prominent glacial plateau with scenic rolling prairie, wetlands, cultural history, and important native remnants across a broad landscape.
Scoring methodology
The Silingol Steppe, also known as the Xilingol Grassland, is a vast temperate grassland located in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China. It is recognized for its rich biodiversity and ecological importance as a representative Eurasian steppe ecosystem. The region is part of the UNESCO Worl...
Why this score?
UNESCO biosphere recognition, rich biodiversity, classic grassland scenery, and nomadic culture support exceptional regard despite grazing pressure.
Scoring methodology
Manpupuner Rock Formations are seven colossal stone pillars situated in the remote Republic of Komi, Russia. These natural formations represent an extraordinary example of glacial and fluvial erosion shaping a plateau over millennia. The structures’ immense size and unusual symmetry make them a sign...
The Patagonian Desert, also known as the Patagonian Steppe, is the largest desert in South America, spanning approximately 673,000 square kilometers. Located primarily in Argentina, it occupies the region east of the Andes mountain range, where it exists as a cold, rain-shadow desert. The harsh, ari...
Why this score?
Largest South American desert, strong ecological and scenic reputation; less globally iconic than Sahara, Gobi, or Atacama.
Scoring methodology
Columbia Hills Petroglyphs are located within Columbia Hills Historical State Park in Washington state, near the Columbia River. The site preserves rock art created by Indigenous peoples of the Columbia Plateau, with carvings spanning thousands of years. The best-known image is Tsagaglalal, or 'She...
Why this score?
Famous Tsagaglalal image and Columbia River cultural significance; relocation and dam impacts complicate preservation reputation.
Scoring methodology
The Central Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe occupies a vast area of western China’s Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. This unique ecosystem is characterized by high altitude, cold, and arid conditions supporting specialized plant life like grasses and mosses. It's notable for its substantial populations of Tibet...
The Vercors Massif is a prominent limestone mountain range located in the French Prealps in the southeastern region of France. Characterized by sheer cliffs, deep gorges, and extensive underground cave systems, it is largely protected within the Vercors Regional Natural Park. During World War II, it...
Why this score?
Striking plateau landscapes, resistance history, caves and cliffs, strong French reputation, not top-tier Alpine fame.
Scoring methodology
The Badghyz Steppe is a semi-desert and plateau region located in southern Turkmenistan. It is ecologically distinguished by its ancient, naturally occurring wild pistachio woodlands, which thrive in the arid climate. The region also serves as a vital refuge for the endangered Turkmenian wild ass, a...
Why this score?
Wild pistachio woodlands and Asiatic wild ass habitat give major conservation value, offset by restricted recognition and regional fragility.
Scoring methodology
The Ladakh Cold Desert is a high-altitude desert located in the northern Indian Union Territory of Ladakh. Situated in the rain shadow of the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges, the region receives very low annual precipitation, resulting in an arid landscape characterized by bare mountains and...
Why this score?
High-altitude cold desert with strong Himalayan tourism and cultural reputation; widely admired.
Scoring methodology
The Great Basin Desert is a cold winter desert spanning approximately 492,000 square kilometers, making it the largest desert in the United States. It covers the majority of Nevada and extends into parts of Utah, California, Oregon, and Idaho. Unlike the hot deserts of the Southwest, the Great Basin...
Why this score?
Largest US desert, important cold desert ecology and protected landscapes; respected but lower global profile.
Scoring methodology
The Upper Karoo is a vast, semi-arid plateau and geological region located in the central interior of South Africa. It is characterized by its wide, open shrublands, dramatic flat-topped hills, and extreme temperature fluctuations. The area sits atop sedimentary rock sequences of the Karoo Supergrou...
Why this score?
Expansive solitude, geology, fossils, and celebrated Karoo atmosphere earn strong regard, with aridity limiting universal appeal.
Scoring methodology
The Deosai Plains, located in Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan region, form a high-altitude plateau at approximately 4,100 meters above sea level. The area is designated as Deosai National Park, established in 1993 to protect the Himalayan brown bear. It is among the highest plateaus in the world and rem...
Why this score?
High-altitude plateau, national park status, and wildlife reputation earn strong scenic and ecological acclaim.
Scoring methodology
The Chang Tang Steppe occupies a high-altitude region of the Tibetan Plateau in China. This expansive steppe ecosystem is notable for its extreme conditions and serves as vital grazing land for livestock and supports unique alpine wildlife populations including snow leopards and wild yaks. It’s prim...
Budderoo National Park is a protected area in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia, encompassing plateau, escarpment, heathland, woodland, and rainforest environments. Its best-known visitor areas include Minnamurra Rainforest and the walking routes around Carrington Falls. The park pr...
Why this score?
Rainforest, heath, waterfalls, and escarpment views earn high regional regard; limited facilities and variable road access reduce mainstream recognition.
Scoring methodology
The Blackdown Hills are an upland landscape spanning parts of Devon and Somerset in southwestern England. Designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1991 and now formally called a National Landscape, the area includes a plateau cut by valleys, with heath, woodland, farmland, springs, and st...
Why this score?
Highly regarded rolling landscape with panoramic views, biodiversity, and quiet walking; dispersed attractions and limited public transport reduce accessibility.
Scoring methodology
The Barren Grounds Nature Reserve is a protected conservation area located on the Illawarra escarpment in New South Wales, Australia. Established to preserve its unique upland heathland ecosystems, the reserve serves as a crucial habitat for several threatened native species, most notably the easter...
Why this score?
Important upland heath and bird habitat offers remote trails and waterfalls; restricted access, weather, and fewer facilities narrow its audience.
Scoring methodology
Springbrook National Park is a protected area in the hinterland of Queensland's Gold Coast, established in 1990 and included within the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage property. It protects subtropical and temperate rainforest, ancient volcanic landscapes, cliffs, streams, and water...
The Palpa Lines Geoglyphs are a collection of ancient ground drawings located in the Palpa Province of southern Peru, situated near the more famous Nazca Lines. Created primarily by the Paracas and Topará cultures between roughly 1000 BCE and 1 CE, they predate the geoglyphs of the Nazca culture. Un...
The Puna Steppe is a high-altitude montane ecoregion in the central Andes, spanning across Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. Characterized by cold, arid grasslands and shrublands above 3,200 meters, it features saline lakes and unique wildlife adapted to extreme elevations. Notable species includ...
Gilf Kebir is a large, remote sandstone plateau in southwestern Egypt, near the borders with Libya and Sudan in the Libyan Desert. Its cliffs, valleys, and surrounding dune fields contain archaeological sites and prehistoric rock art, including the Cave of Swimmers, documented for Europeans by Lászl...
Why this score?
Remote plateau with famous prehistoric rock art and exploration history, but difficult access keeps consensus specialist.
Scoring methodology
The Columbia Plateau Shrub-Steppe is a vast semiarid ecoregion located in the northwestern United States, primarily encompassing parts of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. The landscape is defined by its rolling plateaus and basins, which are dominated by drought-resistant vegetation like sagebrush and...
Why this score?
Recognized for dramatic basalt terrain, sagebrush ecology, and distinctive fauna; agriculture, invasive species, wildfire, and habitat loss substantially diminish integrity.
Scoring methodology
Brownsberg Nature Park is a protected area in the Brokopondo district of Suriname, situated on the Mazaroni plateau overlooking the Brokopondo Reservoir. It protects an accessible expanse of tropical rainforest that is home to several species of primates, exotic birds, and diverse plant life. Manage...
Why this score?
Accessible Suriname rainforest park with good wildlife and waterfall appeal, but smaller and less pristine than Central Suriname.
Scoring methodology
The Great Karoo is a vast semi-arid plateau spanning roughly 400,000 square kilometers across the Western and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. Characterized by its low rainfall, extreme temperatures, and sparse shrubland vegetation, it is a central region for South Africa's Merino sheep farmi...
Why this score?
Important South African semi-desert with cultural, ecological, and paleontological reputation; moderate global recognition.
Scoring methodology
The Serra Geral Escarpment is a major geological cliff line located in southern Brazil, forming the eastern boundary of the Paraná Basin. Composed primarily of ancient basalt rock from Cretaceous volcanic activity, the escarpment dramatically separates the cooler inland plateau from the narrow Atlan...
The Ardennes Massif is a region of heavily forested upland terrain primarily located across Belgium, Luxembourg, and parts of France and Germany. It consists of an ancient mountain range characterized by rolling plateaus, steep valleys, and dense woodlands. The area is historically notable as the si...
Why this score?
Forested uplands with major WWII history and outdoor appeal, strong cultural recognition, limited high-mountain impact.
Scoring methodology
The Waterberg Plateau is a prominent flat-topped sandstone landform in central Namibia, rising roughly 200 meters above the surrounding plains. Much of it lies within Waterberg Plateau Park, established as a protected area and used in conservation programs for threatened wildlife, including rhinocer...
Why this score?
Ecological refuge and national park with solid visitor appeal; plateau form less globally iconic.
Scoring methodology
