intermontane

Intermontane is an adjective used in geography and geology to denote a location, landscape, or physiographic province occurring between mountain ranges. The term is applied to regions such as intermontane basins and intermontane plateaus, often formed by tectonic processes and subsequent erosion that create topographic relief between rising ranges. Etymology: from Latin inter montes "between mountains."

Intermontane regions commonly exhibit features such as enclosed basins with endorheic drainage, dry or semi-arid climates due to rain shadow effects, and distinctive ecosystems that reflect isolation and microclimates. They may be the sites of sedimentation in basins, with infilling from rivers or glacial outwash; tectonics such as crustal compression or extension can create basinal troughs and uplift surrounding ranges.

Examples and regional usage: In North America, "intermontane" describes basins and plateaus located between major mountain belts, such as the intermontane basins of the western United States and parts of the Canadian Cordillera. In the Andes, the term is used for high plateaus and basins lying between cordilleras, such as the Altiplano between the western and eastern Andes. The phrasing is common in geological classifications and physiography to distinguish features from intra-montane or montane environments.