Steplands

Steplands refer to landscapes characterized by a relief of successive, nearly level benches or steps cutting across hillsides or low mountains. The topography consists of flat or gently inclined terraces separated by steeper risers, producing a stair-step appearance over varying horizontal scales. Steplands can form naturally through tectonic uplift, differential erosion, and fault-block processes, or be created or enhanced by human activity through hillside terracing for agriculture and land stabilization.

Natural steplands arise when uplift raises a region and streams or rivers erode the uplifted blocks unevenly, creating a series of flat benches and steeper edges. In arid and semi-arid environments, wind and water erosion can also sculpt stepped surfaces as softer layers wear away faster than harder layers. Human-made steplands, or terraced landscapes, are created by carving and maintaining flat platforms on slopes to improve agricultural productivity, control runoff, reduce soil erosion, and manage water distribution.

Key characteristics include a repetitive horizontal pattern of benches, variability in soil depth and moisture from one step to the next, and microclimatic differences that influence vegetation on different levels. Management concerns focus on soil conservation, irrigation efficiency, and stability, as steep transitions can be prone to landslides or collapse after heavy rain or earthquakes.

Famous examples include the terraced uplands of the Andes, the Banaue Rice Terraces in the Philippines, and Hani rice terraces in Yunnan, China, illustrating the wide geographic use of steplands for cultivation and landscape shaping.