Terrace (geology)

In geology, a terrace is a step like landform. A terrace consists of a flat or gently sloping geomorphic surface, called a tread, that is typically bounded on one side by a steeper ascending slope called a riser or scarp, with the tread and the descending slope together making up the terrace; a terrace can also consist of a tread bounded on all sides by a descending riser. A narrow terrace of this kind is often called a bench.