A () is an isolated Hill with steep sides and a small flat top, smaller than Mesa s and Plateau s. Buttes are prevalent in the Western United States and on the Hawaiian Islands , especially around Honolulu . The word "butte" comes from a French word meaning "small hill".
Buttes are formed by Erosion when a cap of hard Rock , usually of Volcanic origin, covers a layer of softer rock that is easily worn away. This hard rock avoids erosion while the rock around it wears down. One example of a noted butte is Chimney Rock .
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