mesa

Monument Valley, in Utah, USA, so called for the area's monumentlike buttes and mesas. Some of the red sandstone formations are over 300 m/980 ft high.

Flat-topped, steep-sided plateau, consisting of horizontal weak layers of rock topped by a resistant formation; in particular, those found in the desert areas of the USA and Mexico. A small mesa is called a butte.

Mesa

City in Maricopa County, south-central Arizona; population (2000) 396,400. Mesa is on the Salt River, a suburb of Phoenix lying 21 km/13 mi east-southeast of the city centre.

Mesa was originally settled in 1878 by Mormons, who transformed the desert into agricultural land, known especially for fruit-growing. The city grew rapidly after World War II and has continued to expand, its population increasing by nearly 90% in the period 1980-90. Its economy relies in part on food processing and retailing industries; manufactures include electronic components, fabricated metals, aircraft parts, heavy machinery, and clothing. It is also a popular winter resort. The city is the site of Mesa Community College (founded 1965), a Mormon temple, a University of Arizona agricultural experimental station, and the Oakland Athletics (baseball) spring training camp. The Salt River Indian Reservation lies just south across the river from Mesa.