coteau

Coteau, from the French word coteau meaning hillside or slope, is a term used in geography to describe a long, gently to moderately high hill or elevated crest that separates adjacent valleys or basins. In geomorphology, a coteau can refer to a topographic shelf or escarpment that runs across a landscape, often formed by differential erosion of layered rocks or by glacial and tectonic activity. Coteaux commonly occur along river valleys, where harder rock or resistant sediments create a higher ground that stands above nearby lowlands. Soils on coteaux may be shallow to moderately deep and can support vegetation different from that of the surrounding valleys; slope aspect can influence microclimates and drainage.

In toponymy, the term coteau appears in place names in regions with French linguistic heritage, reflecting historical French colonization and exploration. Examples include Côteau-du-Lac, a municipality in Quebec named after a hillside adjacent to a body of water, and the Coteau des Prairies, a significant plateau in the upper Midwestern United States that forms a notable transition between prairie and more eroded terrain.

See also terms related to landforms and relief, such as escarpment, cuesta, and ridge, which describe similar classes of sloped or elevated terrain.