A ''Kuppe'' is the term used in German-speaking central Europe for a

mountain A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited summit area, and is usually higher ...

hill A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. It often has a distinct summit. Terminology The distinction between a hill and a mountain is unclear and largely subjective, but a hill is universally considered to be not a ...

with a rounded summit that has no

rock formation A rock formation is an isolated, scenic, or spectacular surface rock outcrop. Rock formations are usually the result of weathering and erosion sculpting the existing rock. The term ''rock formation'' can also refer to specific sedime ...

, such as a tor, on it. A range of such hills is called a ''Kuppengebirge''. In geology the term also refers to corresponding

stratigraphic Stratigraphy is a branch of geology concerned with the study of rock layers (strata) and layering (stratification). It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks. Stratigraphy has three related subfields: lithostra ...

forms. The term is similar to the English topographical and geological terms, knoll and

dome A dome () is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere. There is significant overlap with the term cupola, which may also refer to a dome or a structure on top of a dome. The precise definition of a dome has been a m ...

.''Elsevier's Dictionary of Geography: in English, Russian, French, Spanish and ...''
p. 198, by Vladimir Kotlyakov, Anna Komarova. Retrieved 5 Jul 2014. It is also analogous to the French word ''ballon'' which means a mountain with a rounded summit. In

cartography Cartography (; from grc, χάρτης , "papyrus, sheet of paper, map"; and , "write") is the study and practice of making and using maps. Combining science, aesthetics and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality (or an i ...

in German-speaking countries, the term is used more widely to refer to all eminences (biaxially convex

landform A landform is a natural or anthropogenic land feature on the solid surface of the Earth or other planetary body. Landforms together make up a given terrain, and their arrangement in the landscape is known as topography. Landforms include hills, ...

s) i.e. including those with a more pointed appearance. ''Kuppen'' are a common feature of many ranges within the German

Central Uplands The Central UplandsDickinson (1964), p.18 ff. (german: die MittelgebirgeN.B. In German die ''Mittelgebirge'' (plural) refers to the Central Uplands; das ''Mittelgebirge'' refers to a low mountain range or upland region (''Mittel'' = "medium" and ...

including the

Rhön Mountains The Rhön Mountains () are a group of low mountains (or '' Mittelgebirge'') in central Germany, located around the border area where the states of Hesse, Bavaria and Thuringia come together. These mountains, which are at the extreme southeast end ...

Derivation

''Kuppe'' comes from the

Middle High German Middle High German (MHG; german: Mittelhochdeutsch (Mhd.)) is the term for the form of German spoken in the High Middle Ages. It is conventionally dated between 1050 and 1350, developing from Old High German and into Early New High German. Hig ...

language of the 18th century, probably deriving from the Late Latin/Common Roman word ''cuppa'' = "beaker", which then became commonly used in the sense of ''Haube'' ("helmet" or "covering") for a summit.

Geomorphology and geology

''Kuppengebirge'' ("kuppe hills") is a

geomorphological Geomorphology (from Ancient Greek: , ', "earth"; , ', "form"; and , ', "study") is the scientific study of the origin and evolution of topographic and bathymetric features created by physical, chemical or biological processes operating at or ...

term. Their formation usually arises as a combination of certain types of rock and the onset of steady

erosion Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as water flow or wind) that removes soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust, and then transports it to another location where it is deposited. Erosion is d ...

processes.

Distribution

''Kuppen'' are typical of the

and the Prealps of Europe. For example, the many domed summits of the

Fichtel Mountains The Fichtel MountainsRandlesome, C. et al. (2011). ''Business Cultures in Europe'', 2nd ed., Routledge, Abingdon and New York, p. 52. . (german: Fichtelgebirge, cs, Smrčiny), form a small horseshoe-shaped mountain range in northeastern Bavari ...

or the

Pohorje Pohorje (), also known as the Pohorje Massif or the Pohorje Mountains (german: Bachergebirge, ''Bacherngebirge'' or often simply ''Bachern''), is a mostly wooded, medium-high mountain range south of the Drava River in northeastern Slovenia. Acco ...

are called ''kuppen'', but they also occur in hilly areas. In this connexion, for example, a part of the

is known as the Kuppen Rhön (''Kuppenrhön'') and ''Kuppe'' or ''Koppe'' is often part of the name of mountains and hills, e.g. the

Wasserkuppe The is a mountain within the Germany, German state of Hesse. It is a large plateau formation at an elevation of and is the highest peak in the Rhön Mountains. Great advances in sailplane development took place on the mountain during the Aviat ...

and the Schneekoppe. Places where sedimentary beds have bulged and where rising

oil An oil is any nonpolar chemical substance that is composed primarily of hydrocarbons and is hydrophobic (does not mix with water) & lipophilic (mixes with other oils). Oils are usually flammable and surface active. Most oils are unsaturated ...

natural gas Natural gas (also called fossil gas or simply gas) is a naturally occurring mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons consisting primarily of methane in addition to various smaller amounts of other higher alkanes. Low levels of trace gases like carbon d ...

has accumulated, are also called ''kuppen''.

References

{{Reflist Landforms