limestone pavements
Fissured rock plateaus
Limestone pavements are natural rock formations where flat expanses of exposed limestone have been carved into distinctive patterns by water erosion.
Rainwater dissolves the rock along joints and cracks, creating deep fissures called grykes separated by raised blocks called clints.
These stark, almost alien landscapes occur in glaciated regions where ice stripped away soil to expose the bedrock beneath.
Notable examples include the pavements of the Yorkshire Dales and Ireland's Burren.
- karstEroded soluble rock terrain
- calciteCrystalline calcium carbonate
- outcropSurfacing native stone
- bare rockExposed stone surface
- geologyStudy of Earth's composition
carbonation · landform · glaciations · ice age · erosion · joints · microhabitats · crevices · sedimentary · slabs · chemical weathering · rain water · exposed · weathered · channels · ancient · Yorkshire · walking boots
- habitatsforest, ocean, lake, river, pond
- rock gardensrock garden, rockeries, rockery, alpine garden, rocks
- karstsinkhole, sinkholes, cave, caves, cavern
- coastal geologycliffs, sea cliffs, coastal cliffs, chalk cliffs, granite cliffs
- Welsh natureSnowdonia, red kites, red kite, puffins, grey seals
limestone pavement, limestone, liming, pavements, limestones