One quarter of the world's population lives in karst areas, most in China, which are formed by chemical weathering and erosion of limestone by rainwater. Karst areas lack rivers and lakes but have features like swallow holes, dolines, and underground water in caves. Rainwater dissolves the calcium carbonate in limestone, depositing calcite in cave formations. Karst areas are an important source of water for springs and are valuable for tourism, ecosystems, and history, but development is restricted due to engineering challenges like cave collapses and groundwater contamination.

2.  ¼ of the world’s population live in Karst areas (most of
this ¼ is found in China)
 Formed by Chemical weathering (from rainwater) and
erosion

11.  Lack of rivers/lakes
 Presence of Swallow Holes – where water disappears
underground
 Presence of hollows – dolines
 Presence of underground water (in caves)

12.  Limestone is permeable (water can pass through)
 Well jointed (vertical “gaps”)
 Has bedding planes (horizontal “gaps” between layers)
 Easily chemically weathered

21.  Many cave features are formed by Deposition
 Rainwater (slightly acidic from the CO2 in the air) dissolves
Calcium Carbonate in Limestone.
 The dissolved Calcium Carbonate (called Calcite) is deposited
in caves

26.  Important source of water – many springs in Limestone
areas.
 Ballygowan water – from limestone area in Limerick

27.  Very important for tourism
◦ Caves are tourist attractions (e.g. Ailwee Cave)
◦ Unique landscape
◦ Planning restrictions mean landscape is kept unspoilt – no
housing estates/McDonalds/Shopping centres allowed
◦ Historic features

28.  Unique Ecosystem…. Unusual plants and animals

29.  Engineering difficulties
◦ Caves may collapse
◦ Industrial Development Restricted
◦ Problems with fresh water contamination due to permeable
nature of landscape – fertiliser, sewerage etc can easily
contaminate drinking water supplies
◦ Agricultural development restricted – farming is difficult