A cuesta is a ridge with a gentle slope on one side and a steep slope on the other, typically formed by the differential erosion of tilted sedimentary rock layers. The gentle slope corresponds to the dip of the strata, while the steep slope is the scarp face. Cuestas are common in areas of gently folded sedimentary rocks and are important in understanding the processes of erosion and landscape development.
Reference: Baker, V. R., & Twidale, C. R. (1991). “The Elucidation of Landform Assemblages and Their Genesis.” Geological Society of America Bulletin, 103(9), 1166-1177.