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 t ...

or hill with a rounded summit that has no

rock formation A rock formation is an isolated, scenic, or spectacular surface rock (geology), rock outcrop. Rock formations are usually the result of weathering and erosion sculpting the existing rock. The term ''rock Geological formation, formation ...

, such as a tor, on it. A range of such hills is called a ''Kuppengebirge''. In geology the term also refers to corresponding stratigraphic forms. The term is similar to the English topographical and geological terms, knoll and dome.''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 in German-speaking countries, the term is used more widely to refer to all eminences (biaxially convex

landform A landform is a land feature on the solid surface of the Earth or other planetary body. They may be natural or may be anthropogenic (caused or influenced by human activity). Landforms together make up a given terrain, and their arrangement ...

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

Derivation

''Kuppe'' comes from the

Middle High German Middle High German (MHG; or ; , shortened as ''Mhdt.'' or ''Mhd.'') is the term for the form of High German, High German language, German spoken in the High Middle Ages. It is conventionally dated between 1050 and 1350, developing from Old High ...

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 () is the scientific study of the origin and evolution of topography, topographic and bathymetry, bathymetric features generated by physical, chemical or biological processes operating at or near Earth#Surface, Earth's surface. Ge ...

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 Surface runoff, water flow or wind) that removes soil, Rock (geology), rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust#Crust, Earth's crust and then sediment transport, tran ...

processes.

Distribution

''Kuppen'' are typical of the Central Uplands and the Prealps of Europe. For example, the many domed summits of the

Fichtel Mountains The Fichtel Mountains (, ; ) is a mountain range in Germany and the Czech Republic. They extend from the valley of the Red Main River in northeastern Bavaria to the Karlovy Vary Region in western Czech Republic. The Fichtel Mountains contain an ...

or the Pohorje are called ''kuppen'', but they also occur in hilly areas. In this connexion, for example, a part of the Rhön Mountains 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 and the Schneekoppe. Places where sedimentary beds have bulged and where rising oil or natural gas has accumulated, are also called ''kuppen''.

References

{{Reflist Landforms