WHAT IS KARST?

"Karst" refers to landforms dominated by bedrock � typically limestone or less often dolomite � that is susceptible to chemical erosion from naturally occurring carbonic acid. Karst topography is sometimes divided into three distinct forms: 1) Caribbean, 2) Temperate, and 3) Tropical.

1) Caribbean karst is found in relatively flat areas (e.g., Florida and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula) and is characterized by sinkholes, sinkhole ponds, disappearing streams, crystal clear springs, and underground caverns that are often filled with water. In the Yucatan, where the the water table is relatively low, a large number of sinkhole ponds (known as cenotes in Mexico) with deep vertical cliffs and water at the bottom can be observed.

2) Temperate karst is found outside the tropics, especially in the mid-latitudes, in areas that generally receive less precipitation than Caribbean and tropical karst regions. Depending on relief, these areas may have similar topographic features as the other karst types, but often have underground features � especially elaborate networks of large and accessible caverns � that are more accentuated than their above ground features. Examples include Kentucky's Mammoth Caves and the karst region of Europe's Balkan Peninsula.

3) Tropical karst occurs in humid tropical regions with much topographic relief and is distinctly characterized by steep, rounded hills known as haystacks or mogotes (in parts of the Spanish-speaking Caribbean) and areas of "feral relief" (literally "relief gone wild") with steep, nearly vertical rock formations as seen in the Stone Forest of Yunnan, China. In addition to China, good examples of tropical karst can be seen in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica (especially well know for its "cockpit" country), and Puerto Rico.