How do escarpments form around many plateaus?

Escarpments, which are steep slopes or cliffs, often form around plateaus as a result of erosion processes that distinguish the elevated upland from surrounding lower terrain.12

The formation of these features is frequently driven by the headwater erosion of rivers originating from coastal plains or lower-lying areas, which gradually cut back into the edge of the plateau. The distinctness and steepness of an escarpment often depend on the underlying geology; for instance, when erosion-resistant rock layers (such as basalt lavas) overlie softer, more easily eroded materials (like sandstones), the resulting cliff face becomes particularly sharp and well-defined.2

In other regions, such as the Colorado Plateau, the process of denudation—involving downcutting and stripping—leaves behind harder rock layers that act as protective caps. This differential erosion creates steep-sided landforms like mesas and buttes at the plateau's margins, further contributing to the characteristic escarpment topography.34