A clifftop is the flat or gently sloping area at the very top of a cliff, right where the land meets the steep drop-off. Picture standing on solid ground with an incredible view stretching out before you, knowing that just a few steps ahead, the earth suddenly falls away into empty air.

Clifftops appear in stories and movies as dramatic settings because they combine beauty with danger. In The Princess Bride, the heroes climb the Cliffs of Insanity to reach the clifftop above. Lighthouses are often built on clifftops so their beams can be seen far out at sea. Ancient castles sometimes perched on clifftops, using the natural protection of the steep drop to defend against enemies.

You might read about clifftop trails in national parks, where hikers can enjoy spectacular ocean views while walking along the edge. Clifftops can be found along coastlines where waves have carved away the rock below, or in canyons where rivers cut through stone over millions of years.