ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at karst terrain. It opens with a discussion of karst environments, clarifying the meaning of several terms, including epigene karst, hypogene karst, true karst, and pseudokarst. It then proceeds to explore karst processes, and in particular the dissolution of limestone or other soluble rocks by groundwaters charged with acids, both meteoric water (epigene karst) or connate and juvenile water (hypogene karst). Moving on to karst landforms, the chapter examines the rich variety to be found: karren, limestone pavements, pinnacles, karst ruins, corridors, and coastal karst features; dolines, karst windows, uvalas, and polja; and fengcong and fenglin (tower and cone karst). It then considers karst landforms associated with surface drainage, such as gorges, dry valleys, natural bridges, and tufa and travertine deposits. Next, it describes subterranean karst features, examining the rich array of speleogens and speleothems. This is followed by a look at human impacts on karst landscapes, and in particular the problems of cave tourism and karstlands conservation. Finally, karst surviving from the geological past – palaeokarst – is discussed.
