Karst Topography.pptx
- 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.
- 15. Cave Pillars