september 20, 2012

Karst wellspring


What Exactly is Karst?
Karst is a landscape formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks including limestone, dolomite and gypsum. It is characterized by sinkholes, caves, and underground drainage systems . Nearly all surface karst features are formed by internal drainage, subsidence, and collapse triggered by the development of underlying caves Rainwater becomes acidic as it comes in contact with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the soil. As it drains into fractures in the rock, the water begins to dissolve away the rock creating a network of passages. Over time, water flowing through the network continues to erode and enlarge the passages; this allows the plumbing system to transport increasingly larger amounts of water This process of dissolution leads to the development of the caves, sinkholes, springs, and sinking streams typical of a karst landscape



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