Higherland

Higherland refers to elevated land relative to surrounding terrain; it is not a formal geographic term in most modern reference works, but rather a descriptive label or a proper name used in historical records and some fictional settings.

The term derives from the combination of higher and land. In English, more standardized terms such as highland or upland are common, and "Higherland" has occasionally appeared in old maps or place names, though it is not widely used as a standard category today.

In geography, upland areas labeled as higherland typically lie above adjacent lowlands by varying elevations. They often experience cooler temperatures and higher precipitation, with soils that are shallower or less fertile. The terrain can be rolling to rugged, supporting vegetation such as moorland, grassland, heath, or coniferous forests. Drainage tends to funnel toward lower regions, and human use tends to be grazing, forestry, or tourism, with lower population density and some infrastructure challenges.

Culturally, the term has limited modern usage outside descriptive or fictional contexts. In historical cartography, "Higherland" could mark an upper portion of a territory; in contemporary usage, contrasts are usually described with terms like highlands, uplands, or montane zones. Some works of fiction designate a polity or realm named Higherland.

See also: Highlands, upland, lowland, montane.