Question

______ plains are formed due to the weathering of soluble rocks such as limestone and dolomite.
1. Desert
2. Deposition
3. Karst
4. Glacial

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : Karst

The correct answer is Karst.

• Karst plains are formed due to the weathering of soluble rocks such as limestone and dolomite. 

• Karst is a distinctive topography in which the landscape is largely shaped by the dissolving action of water on carbonate bedrock such as limestone and dolomite, etc.
  • When the rain falls through the atmosphere, it picks carbon dioxide which dissolves in the droplets.
  • Once the rain hits the ground, it percolates through the soil and picks more carbon dioxide to form a weak solution of carbonic acid.
  • The infiltrating water naturally exploits cracks in the rock.
  • Over long periods, carbon bedrock begins to dissolve.
  • Opening in bedrock increases in size and an underground drainage system begins to develop and allows more water to pass which further accelerates the formation process of karst.
  • Some of the landforms develop within the bedrock such as pools, sinkholes, doline, stalactites, stalagmites etc.
  • ​​Examples of karst topography:
    • Skocjan Caves, Slovenia
    • The Puerto Princesa Underground River, Philippines
    • Doline in the causse de Sauveterre, Lozere, France
    • Li River, Guilin, China