Guyots represent a fascinating intersection of volcanic and erosional geography. When a volcanic island becomes inactive, it is subjected to constant wave action which “beheads” the peak, creating a flat surface. As the underlying tectonic plate moves away from the mid-ocean ridge, the crust sinks (subsides), taking the flat-topped mountain deep below the surface. These “tablemounts” are common in the Pacific Ocean. Unlike abyssal plains (which are like underwater plains) or ridges (like underwater mountains), Guyots are the only submarine features that possess the distinct, elevated, flat-topped profile of a terrestrial plateau.