Karst Landscapes

Chemical weathering of rocks rich in carbonates would form a unique landscape such as caves, rivers, underground rivers, and springs. Karst derives from the narrow plains means empty due to the dissolving of the work on the surrounding area. Karst developed in areas that have many limestone with little dolomite. Chemical solubility of limestone become more intense when there are cracks, cracks in the rocks so that erosion comes through the gap and continuous surface to the inside.

Limestone towers and conical hills Southeast of Guilin, China

In general there are four necessary conditions for the emergence of karst. First there must be limestone located close to the surface. However, karst is usually found in the dolomite layer was covered by the very lack of solubility when compared with limestone. Second, limestone be packed with lots of thick and thin layered. If the rock is too permeable then the water will continue to flow without reacting first with limestone. Third, the existence of rivers under the ground upon which consist of soluble rocks while also allowing a lot of heavy downward flow forming subsurface water flow is important in the formation of karst. And the last at least the area must have a rainfall conditions is high enough. Some areas with climate Arid or semi-Arid to form karst, karst formation, although some may appear in the previous period when the climate humid/wet.