karst
Dissolved limestone landscape
Karst is a landscape shaped by the dissolution of solite rock—limestone, dolomite, or gypsum—by acidic groundwater.
The process creates distinctive features: sinkholes, caves, underground rivers, and dramatic surface formations.
The karst terrain of Slovenia is riddled with caves.
The term comes from a limestone plateau in that region.
Underground collapse crater
Hanging cave mineral deposit
- stalagmiteUpward-growing cave deposit
- cavernLarge natural underground chamber
- grottoSmall scenic cavern
- subterraneanBeneath earth's surface
flowstone · drapery · column · calcite · sinter · darkness · exploration · chamber
Carbonate sedimentary rock
- dolomiteCalcium magnesium carbonate mineral
- bedrockSolid stone underground
- calciteCrystalline calcium carbonate
- aragoniteCalcium carbonate crystal form
gypsum · chalk · marble · travertine · tufa · dissolution · corrosion · solubility
Flying mammal or sports club
Groundwater-bearing geological formation
- springRecoiling metal spiral
- resurgenceReturn after dormancy
- conduitTube conveying fluid or cables
- porosityVoid space density
sinkhole
Underground collapse crater
stalactite
Hanging cave mineral deposit
- stalagmiteUpward-growing cave deposit
- cavernLarge natural underground chamber
- grottoSmall scenic cavern
subterranean · flowstone · drapery · column · calcite · sinter · darkness · exploration · chamber · passage
limestone
Carbonate sedimentary rock
- dolomiteCalcium magnesium carbonate mineral
- bedrockSolid stone underground
- calciteCrystalline calcium carbonate
aragonite · gypsum · chalk · marble · travertine · tufa · dissolution · corrosion · solubility · stratigraphy
bat
Flying mammal or sports club
aquifer
Groundwater-bearing geological formation
- springRecoiling metal spiral
- resurgenceReturn after dormancy
- conduitTube conveying fluid or cables
- cavescave, cavern, caves, caverns, grotto
- geologybedrock, fault lines, faults, rock, basalt
- landformsmountain, cliff, valley, volcano, mountain ridge
- Southeast AsiaVietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia
- habitatsforest, ocean, lake, river, pond
- undergroundunderground, subterranean, cave systems, tunnels, tunnel
- tower karstSteep-sided residual limestone hills
- cockpit karstKarst with enclosed basins