Which term describes an elevated area of land with a flat top & sides that are usually steep cliffs?

'Mesa' is the term used to describe a tableland, an elevated area of land with a flat top and sides that are usually steep cliffs. It takes its name from its characteristic table-top shape. It may also be called a table hill, table-topped hill or table mountain. It is larger than a butte, which it otherwise closely resembles.

The word 'mesa' is Spanish, Portuguese and Sardinian for table. This type of landform is found in arid environments, particularly in the western and southwestern United States in mountainous regions ranging from Washington and California to the Dakotas, Wyoming, Utah, Oklahoma, Texas and Colorado. Examples are also found in many other nations including Spain, Sardinia, North and South Africa, Arabia, India and Australia.

An example of a 'mesa' is Mt. Garfield, located in western Colorado in the city of Palisade.