Karst and Other Limestone Landscapes

Landforms associated with soluble rocks (e.g. limestoneLimestone, dolomite, gypsumGypsum and halite) are generally referred to as karstKarst, and they are among the most striking rocky landscapes in the world. They include a range of features such as gorges, underground drainageUnderground drainage and caves, closed depressions (e.g. dolinesDoline), flutes (karrenKarren, lapiésLapié), cones, pinnacles and towers. The nature of these rocks (solubility, porosity, permeability, jointing, bedding, etc.) contributes to the diversity of forms that is observed, but also significant is climate, past and present. Thus one can talk of cold climate karstKarst, tropical karstTropical karst, and dryland karst. Although solutional features predominate, in some environments one also has depositional forms, such as tufasTufa, travertinesTravertine, and spring moundsSpring mound.