List of karst areas

Karst topography is a geological formation shaped by the dissolution of a layer or layers of soluble bedrock, usually carbonate rock such as limestone or dolomite,^[1] but also in gypsum.^[2] It has also been documented for weathering-resistant rocks, such as quartzite, given the right conditions.^[3] This is an incomplete list of the major karst landscape areas of the world.

Africa

Madagascar

• Anjajavy Forest, western Madagascar
• Ankarana Reserve, Madagascar
• Madagascar dry deciduous forests, western Madagascar
• Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve, Madagascar

South Africa

• Oudtshoorn, Western Cape Province, KwaZulu Natal.
• West Rand, Gauteng and North West Province, KwaZulu Natal.

Asia

China

• Area around Guilin and Yangshuo
• Jiuzhaigou Valley and Huanglong National Park, (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
• Shaanxi tiankeng cluster, discovered in 2016, it is one of the largest in the world comprising forty-nine sinkholes and more than fifty funnels ranging from 50-100 metres in diameter.
• South China Karst, World Heritage Site
• Stone Forest
• Xiaozhai Tiankeng, also known as the Heavenly Pit, is the world's largest sinkhole.^[4]
• Zhangjiajie National Forest park, forming part of the Wulingyuan scenic area, World Heritage Site
• Wulong Karst, Wulong County, Chongqing Municipality

Georgia

• Arabika Massif (including Voronya Cave—the world's deepest cave), Abkhazia, Georgia

India

• Yana
• [Cuddapah Basin, Chhattisgarh basin]^[5]
• [Himalayas, Kashmir]
• [Coastal areas]

Indonesia

• Bantimurung, Indonesia
• Gunung Sewu, Indonesia
• Rammang-Rammang, (Maros Regency) Indonesia, known as The Spectacular Tower Karst Area^[6]

Israel

• avshalom cave
• Ofra region, Palestinian territories

Japan

• Akiyoshi Plateau, Japan
• Atetsudai and Taishakudai Plateaus, Japan
• Shikoku Karst, Japan
• Hiraodai Plateau, Japan
• Okinoerabujima Island and other islets of Ryukyu Islands, Japan

Laos

• Khammouane, Laos
• Vang Vieng, Laos

Lebanon

• Jeita Grotto, Lebanon
• Parts of Mount Lebanon

Malaysia

• Gunung Mulu National Park, Malaysia
• Kilim Karst Geoforest Park, Langkawi, Malaysia
• Kinta Valley, Perak, Malaysia
• Perlis State Park, Perlis, Malaysia
• Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia

Philippines

• El Nido, Palawan, Philippines
• Coron, Palawan, Philippines
• Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines
• Baras, Rizal, Philippines
• Tanay, Rizal, Philippines
• Sagada, Mountain Province, Philippines
• Chocolate Hills, Bohol, Philippines
• Gigante Islands, Carles, Iloilo
• Negros Island, Negros Oriental, Philippines
• Virac, Catanduanes, Philippines
• Caramoan Peninsula, Camarines Sur, Philippines

South Korea

• Gangwon-do (South Korea), South Korea
• Northwestern North Chungcheong Province, South Korea

Thailand

• Ao Phang Nga National Park, Thailand
• Krabi region, Thailand
• Phangnga Bay Area, southern Thailand
• Doi Nang Non, northern Thailand

Taiwan

• Kenting National Park, Taiwan

Turkey

• Taşeli, Turkey

Vietnam

• Hạ Long Bay, Vietnam
• Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, Vietnam
• Tam Cốc-Bích Động in Ninh Bình Province, Vietnam
• Đồng Văn Karst, Global Geopark

Europe

Albania

• Biza area in central Eastern Albania
• Mali me Gropa
• Albanian Alps
• Karaburun Peninsula, Albania

Austria

• Eastern region of the Northern Limestone Alps in the provinces of Salzburg, Upper Austria, Styria, and Lower Austria, forming huge limestone plateaus such as the Steinernes Meer, Hagengebirge, Tennengebirge, Dachstein, Totes Gebirge, Hochschwab, Rax, and Schneeberg.
• Area around Graz, Styria.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Karst poljas (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian: kraška polja)

• Popovo polje in Herzegovina region of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Livanjsko polje (405 km²), near Livno in Završje (Tropolje) region of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Nevesinjsko polje, near Nevesinje in Herzegovina region of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Gatačko polje, near Gacko in Herzegovina region of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Glamočko polje, near Glamoč in Završje (Tropolje) region of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Duvanjsko polje, near Duvno in Završje (Tropolje) region of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Mostarsko polje, near Mostar in Herzegovina region of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Kupreško polje, near Kupres in the border area of Završje (Tropolje) region and Bosnia (region) of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Vjetrenica (which means "wind cave" or "blowhole"), largest and most important cave
• Neretva river
• Trebisnjica river

Bulgaria

• Central Rhodope karst (including Trigrad Gorge), Bulgaria
• Devnya Valley, Varna Province, Bulgaria
• Dragoman marsh, Bulgaria
• Karlukovo Karst Geocomplex

Croatia

• Regions of Dalmatia, Lika (Plitvice Lakes National Park), Gorski kotar, Istria, Kvarner and the islands in Croatia
• See also: list of caves in Croatia

Czech Republic

• Moravian Karst, Czech Republic
• Bohemian Karst, Czech Republic

Estonia

• Kostivere karst area, Estonia
• Tuhala karst area, Estonia

France

• Pyrenees
  • Massif de Larra-Belagua, near Pic d'Anie
  • Pierre-Saint-Martin
  • Arbailles
• Massif Central
  • Causses (Causse du Larzac,...)
• French Prealps
  • Sainte-Baume
  • Mont Sainte-Victoire
  • Alpilles
  • Luberon
  • Vaucluse Mountains
  • Dévoluy Mountains
  • Vercors Plateau
  • Chartreuse Mountains
  • Bauges
• Jura
  • Bugey
• Pays d'Ouche (Normandy)

Germany

• Hönnetal at Balve
• South Harz and Kyffhaeuser Gypsum Karst
• Swabian Alb region in the federal state of Baden-Wuerttemberg

Hungary

• Region of the Mecsek Mountains
• Bükk, a plateau in northeastern Hungary
• Bakony Hills in Transdanubia
• Buda Hills, thermal karst area
• Aggtelek Karst and the largest cave in Hungary (Aggtelek National Park, UNESCO WHS)

Ireland, R.

• Burren in County Clare
• Ballydotia, near Moycullen, in Co. Galway
• Dringeen Oughter, Lough Mask, in Co. Mayo
• Tullyskeherny, near Manorhamilton, in Co. Leitrim

Italy

• Gargano, in Apulia, northern
• Murge, in Apulia and Basilicata, southern
• Carso (Slovene: Kras), a plateau in southwestern Slovenia and northeastern Italy
• Piano Grande surrounding Castelluccio (Norcia), in the Monti Sibillini National Park
• Montello, in Veneto, a plateau in conglomerate rock, venetian sub-alps hills

Malta

• Wied iż-Żurrieq and Dingli, West

Montenegro

• Dinaric Alps region (70% of the territory of Montenegro is Karst)

Poland

• Kraków-Częstochowa Upland (Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska)
• Holy Cross Mountains (Góry Świętokrzyskie) with the Jaskinia Raj (Raj Cave)
• Tatra Mountains including the Jaskinia Wielka Śnieżna (Great Snowy Cave)— the longest cave in Poland

Portugal

• Natural Park Serras d'Aire and Candeeiros

Romania

• Apuseni Mountains, Romania
• Bucegi Mountains, Romania

Serbia

• Dinaric Alps region
• merokarst of eastern Serbia

Slovakia

• Slovak Paradise, Slovakia
• Slovak Karst, Slovakia
• Tatry, Slovakia
• Nízke Tatry, Slovakia
• Muránska planina, Slovakia

Slovenia

• Region of Inner Carniola, Goriška, Upper Carniola and Lower Carniola
• Kras (German: Karst), a plateau in southwestern Slovenia and northeastern Italy, which gave the name to karst topography.

Spain

• Picos de Europa and Basque mountains, northern Spain
• Larra-Belagua, Navarre, northern Spain
• Serra del Cadí mountain range, Spain
• Garraf Massif Natural Park area, Spain
• Ciudad Encantada in the province of Cuenca, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
• El Torcal de Antequera nature preserve, southern Spain

Sweden

• Various places in the limestone and marl island of Gotland, most notably the Lummelunda cave system. Depending on definition the stacks of Gotland can be classified as karst.
• The Abisko-Torneträsk area in northern Sweden contains several cave systems developed on carbonate stata of the Caledonide nappes.

Switzerland

• 7,900 square kilometres (3,100 sq mi), or 19% of the surface of Switzerland, is karst, within this area lies the majority of the 7,500 currently known Swiss caves, with an accumulated passage length of more than 1,200 kilometres (750 mi).

Ukraine

• Podolia and Bukovina regions in the northeastern edge of the Carpathian Mountains which includes some of the largest gypsum caves in the world, including the Optymistychna Cave, which is over 200,000 meters in length, making it the longest cave in Eurasia, the third longest in the world, and the longest gypsum cave in the world.

United Kingdom

England

• White Peak of the Peak District, around Matlock, Castleton^[7] (including Thor's Cave)
• Mendip Hills including Cheddar Gorge^[8]
• Yorkshire Dales including Gaping Gill and the Three Counties System.^[9]
• Forest of Dean including the Clearwell Caves and Mines^[10]

N. Ireland

• Marlbank-Cuilcagh Mountain Region, in County Fermanagh

Scotland

• Assynt, southeast Skye and near Kentallen in Scotland, United Kingdom^[11]

Wales

• Southern and western regions of the Brecon Beacons National Park^[12]
• South Pembrokeshire and Gower
• Parts of Flintshire e.g. Esclusham Mountain
• Great Orme and adjacent parts of North Wales coast

North America

Canada

• Marble Canyon, British Columbia
• Monkman Provincial Park, British Columbia
• Northern Vancouver Island, British Columbia
• Niagara Escarpment, Ontario
• Port au Port Peninsula, Newfoundland
• Nahanni region in the Northwest Territories
• Wood Buffalo National Park in Alberta and the Northwest Territories
• Avon Peninsula, Nova Scotia
• St-Jude, Quebec
• Cardinal Creek, Ontario

Mexico

• Cenotes of the Yucatán Peninsula
• Sótanos of the Sierra Gorda, Querétaro
• Cacahuamilpa grottos Guerrero

United States

Alaska

• Kosciusko Island, southeastern Alaska

Arizona

• Texas Canyon, Cochise County

California

• Yosemite area

Illinois

• Illinois Caverns State Natural Area and Illinois Sinkhole Plain in Monroe County

Indiana

• Mitchell Plain and uplands of southern Indiana

Kentucky

• Bluegrass region of Kentucky
• Mammoth Cave region

Michigan

• Presque Isle County near and around Rogers City
• Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Munising, Michigan

Missouri, Arkansas

• Ozark Plateau of Missouri and Arkansas

Nevada

• Lehman Caves located within Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada

New Mexico

• Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Oklahoma

• Arbuckle Mountains and Arbuckle Uplift
• Kamas Ranch and Alabaster Cavern area

Oregon

• Deschutes River basin

South Dakota

• Black Hills (Wind Cave, Jewel Cave)

Tennessee

• Cumberland Plateau
• Grassy Cove Karst Area

Texas

• Texas Hill Country, Texas and its northern extensions, including the Palo Pinto Mountains

Utah

• Ricks Spring in northeast Utah

Virginia

• Shenandoah Valley, Virginia

West Virginia

• Germany Valley Karst Area
• Smoke Hole Canyon
• Greenbrier River watershed
• Swago Karst Area

Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois

• Driftless Area of southwest Wisconsin, southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa and northwest Illinois

Central America and Caribbean

Belize

• Eastern foothills of Maya Mountains including parts of the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize
• Great Blue Hole near the center of Lighthouse Reef, Belize

Cuba

• Mogotes in Viñales Valley

Dominican Republic

• Los Haitises National Park

Jamaica

• Cockpit Country region

Puerto Rico

• Karst forest, Puerto Rico (see Geography of Puerto Rico)
• Mountains of northwestern Puerto Rico

South America

Chile

• Madre de Dios Island and Guarello Island (the world's southernmost limestone mine), Magallanes, Chile

Venezuela

• The Sierra de San Luis in Falcón State, location of Haitón del Guarataro, the deepest limestone cave in Venezuela.

Oceania

Australia

• Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park and Kintore Caves Conservation Reserve, Katherine, Northern Territory
• Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, near Margaret River, south west Western Australia
• Northern Swan Coastal Plain, Perth, Western Australia
• Naracoorte Caves National Park, South Australia
• Jenolan Caves, New South Wales
• Wombeyan Caves, New South Wales
• Mole Creek Karst National Park, Tasmania
• Nullarbor Plain, South Australia and Western Australia
• Yarrangobilly Caves area, New South Wales

New Zealand

• Takaka Hill, Tasman Region (South Island)
• Mount Owen, Tasman Region (South Island)
• Waitomo, southern Waikato Region (North Island)
• Oparara Basin Arches, Buller District of the West Coast Region (South Island)
• Paparoa National Park, West Coast Region (South Island)
• Craigieburn area, Canterbury District (South Island)^[13]

Papua New Guinea

• Nakanai Mountains, East New Britain

References