Karstimuotoja

Karstimuotoja refers to landforms created by the dissolution of soluble rocks, primarily limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. This process, known as karstification, leads to the formation of a unique and often dramatic landscape characterized by underground drainage systems and distinctive surface features.

The most recognizable karst feature is the sinkhole, a depression in the ground surface formed when underlying rock dissolves or a cave roof collapses. Sinkholes can vary greatly in size, from small depressions to massive dolines that can be hundreds of meters wide and deep. Another common feature is the uvala, which is essentially a cluster of coalesced sinkholes. Poljes are large, flat-bottomed valleys found in karst regions, often formed by the merging of several uvalas and sometimes featuring intermittent lakes.

Underground, karst landscapes are characterized by extensive cave systems, including stalactites and stalagmites formed by the deposition of minerals from dripping water. Blind valleys, where surface streams disappear underground into a sinkhole, and dry valleys, which were once watercourses but now lie dry due to the development of underground drainage, are also typical. The uneven and porous nature of karst bedrock can also lead to springs and underground rivers, making water management in these areas a significant challenge. Karst landscapes are found on every continent, with notable examples in regions like the Yucatán Peninsula, the Dinaric Alps, and parts of China.