What are karst landforms?
Karst landforms arise when water dissolves soluble rock, producing distinctive surface and underground features.
Definition and processes
Core concept Rain and groundwater can dissolve limestone, dolomite or gypsum along cracks. Openings, caves, springs and enclosed depressions may develop over time. How it is studied Water may move quickly along enlarged fractures in karst aquifers. Geological mapping and water tracing help assess hidden conduits and hazards.
Applications and caveats
Why it matters Karst matters for drinking-water protection and sinkhole risk. Pollutants can travel rapidly through open channels, so land use requires care. Common misunderstandings Not all caves form by dissolution; lava tubes are different. A karst area need not display a dramatic sinkhole at the surface.
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