ABSTRACT

The term karst represents terranes with complex geological features and specific hydrogeological characteristics. The karst terranes are composed of soluble rocks, including limestone, dolomite, gypsum, halite, and conglomerates. As a result of rock solubility and various geological processes operating during geological time, a number of phenomena and landscapes were formed that gave the unique, specific characteristics to the terrain defined by this term. Karst is frequently characterized by karrens, dolines (sinkholes), shafts, poljes, caves, ponors (swallowholes), caverns, estavelles, intermittent springs, submarine springs, lost rivers, dry river valleys, intermittently inundated poljes, underground river systems, denuded rocky hills, karst plains, and collapses.