Piedmont plateaus serve as a geographical transition zone between high mountains and low-lying plains. They are characterized by a steep slope or escarpment on the side facing the plain and a gradual rise toward the mountain range. A prime example is the Malwa Plateau in India or the Piedmont Plateau in the eastern United States, located between the Appalachian Mountains and the Atlantic Coastal Plain. These regions are often dissected by rivers that tumble down from the mountains, creating “fall lines” that historically provided water power for industrial development and settlement.