Karst topography

1. Karst Topography
by
Dr. R. Prasad
(Department of Geography)
Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar College

2. Ideal conditions for the development Karst
topography:
• Large extension, thickly bedded and well jointed
limestone deposits
• Deposits of limestone should be above the water
table
• Limestone should be exposed to the air/water
• Well fractured, faulted or folded
• Well rained area with good/ higher temperature

3. Karst Topography
• Created when groundwater dissolves
sedimentary rock such as limestone
• Forms caves and sinkholes
• Beautiful but fragile, and vulnerable to erosion

4. Karst Region

5. Erosional Landforms
Lappies: They are needle shaped ridges which are found in numbers in the karst
topography area. Walking in these areas become extremely difficult.
Sinkhole: It is funnel shaped opening which looks more or less circular on the
ground.
Swallow Hole: When sinkholes are further enlarged by solution process, it is called
as swallow holes. Water goes underground through a swallow hole in the
limestone area.
Dolines: Further enlargement of swallow holes due to collapsing its roof forms
dolines. Larger forms of dolines are called as ‘Uvalas’.
Caves: Long and wide gap are called caves. They are formed when limestone
dissolves into the water. A cave having opening at both the ends are called as
tunnel.

6. Lappies

7. Sink Holes

8. Swallow Hole

9. Swallow Hole

10. Doline larger one is Uvalas

11. Cave

12. Caves
• Limestone caves are large sub-surface voids.
• The rocks are dissolved by carbonation.
• The void space is created, known as caves.
• Cave form below the ground water table.
• The dissolved minerals drip through the ceiling of the cave
through fractures and joints in the limestone.
• Over a long period of time, this mineral-rich ground water
dissolves the rocks until eventually entire caves are formed.

13. Depositional Landforms
Stalactities: They are found in the cave. They hang from the ceiling and develop
downwards. They are cone shaped structure formed due to evaporation of
dripping water.
Stalagmites: It is formed by the deposition of materials by the dripping water on
the floor of a cave. They are also smooth with conical shape which developed
toward the roof of the cave.
Cave Pillar: When stalactite and stalagmite join together, they look like a pillar in
the cave called cave pillar.

14. Stalactities and Stalagmites

15. Cave Pillars