inselberg

inselberg
/in"seuhl berrg', -zeuhl-/, n. Physical Geog.
monadnock (def. 1).
[1895-1900; < G, equiv. to Insel island + Berg mountain]

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      (from German Insel, “island,” and Berg, “mountain”), isolated hill that stands above well-developed plains and appears not unlike an island rising from the sea. The early German explorers of southern Africa were impressed by such features, and they dubbed the domed or castlelike highlands inselbergs. Spectacular examples include Ayers Rock and the Olga Rocks in central Australia.

      Inselbergs are relict features. They have maintained their relief as the adjacent surrounding landscape was lowered. C.R. Twidale of Australia demonstrated the role of subsurface weathering in shaping the flanking hillslopes and pediments of granitic inselbergs.

      The occurrence of inselbergs implies immense variations in the rates of degradational activity on the land surface. These structures are one of several varieties of landform called paleoforms that can survive with little modification for tens of millions of years. In inselberg landscapes, the active erosional processes are confined to valley sides and valley floors.

Victor R. Baker
 

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • inselberg — [ insɛlbɛrg ] n. m. • 1908; mot norv. , de insel « île » et berg « montagne » ♦ Géogr. Butte isolée au milieu d une plaine d érosion. ⇒ pédiment. ● inselberg nom masculin (allemand Inselberg, de Insel, île, et Berg, montagne) Relief résiduel …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • inselberg — ÍNSELBERG s.n. (geol.) Munte din regiunile tropicale sau de deşert, rămas izolat dintr un masiv muntos care a fost demolat. [< germ. Inselberg, cf. fr. inselberg]. Trimis de LauraGellner, 04.05.2005. Sursa: DN  INSELBERG s. n. munte din… …   Dicționar Român

  • Inselberg — Inselberg, s. Inselsberg …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Inselberg — Inselberg, s. Inselsberg …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • inselberg — [in′səl bʉrg΄, in′zəlbʉrg΄] n. pl. inselbergs or inselberge [in′səlbʉr΄gə, in′zəlbʉr΄gə] an isolated rocky hill or mountain rising above a peneplain in a hot, dry region: cf. MONADNOCK …   English World dictionary

  • Inselberg —  Ne doit pas être confondu avec Tuya ni Mesa. Spitzkoppe, Namibie : inselberg et pédiment …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Inselberg — Ein Lateritkrusteninselberg bei Dori, Burkina Faso Ein Inselberg ist in der Geomorphologie ein Einzelberg oder eine Berggruppe, die sich inselartig und unvermittelt aus einer Flachform erhebt. Unterschieden werden Strukturinselberge, die Reste… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • inselberg — noun (plural bergs; also inselberge) Etymology: German, from Insel island + Berg mountain Date: 1913 an isolated mountain …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • inselberg —   lit. island mountain (from the German). A stand alone mountain or hill which rises steeply from much flatter surroundings …   Geography glossary

  • inselberg — (Voz alemana.) ► sustantivo masculino GEOLOGÍA Relieve aislado residual de paredes abruptas en medio de superficies llanas. SINÓNIMO [monte isla] * * * ► masculino GEOLOGÍA Pico abrupto que se presenta aislado o con otros en algunas penillanuras …   Enciclopedia Universal

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