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| In Deutsch |
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| In Deutsch |
Karst Development Phases
- Limestone reaches the surface and gets subject to weathering.
- Ground water starts with the solution of limestone and forms first
caves.
A lower drainage system around the limestone area is necessary for the
second stage: the rivers and lakes leave the surface, drainage of the
whole area is underground.
This is the "typical" stage of a karst area, which we know well from
moderate climate zones.
- The limestone caves get bigger and bigger and start to collapse.
Cave systems are marked at the surface by daisy chains of dolines.
Dolines merge and form poljes.
- The cave systems are more or less collapsed.
The former poljes grew and grew until they are all connected and again
form a net of subaerial valles draining the area.
The former limestone plateau is cut into isolated limestone islands.
