List of notable karst areas

Karst topography is a geological formation shaped by the Solvation, dissolution of a layer or layers of soluble bedrock, usually carbonate rock such as limestone or dolomite (rock), dolomite, but also in gypsum. It has also been documented for weathering-resistant rocks, such as quartzite, given the right conditions. 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 Scenic and Historic Interest Area, (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.
* 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 (country), Georgia

India

* Borra Caves, Borra Cave or Bora Guhalu in Andhra Pradesh. Patal Bhuvaneshwar in Uttarakhand.

Indonesia

* Ajamaru Plateau, West Papua
* Bantimurung, Indonesia
* Gunung Sewu, Indonesia
* Rammang-Rammang, in the Bantimurung - Bulusaraung National Park in (Maros Regency) Indonesia, known as Caves in the district of Maros, The Spectacular Tower Karst Area
* Sangkulirang-Mangkalihat Karst, Sangkulirang-Mangkalihat, East Kalimantan
* Pindul Cave, near Yogyakarta

Israel and Palestine

* Avshalom Cave, also known as "Soreq Cave" or "Stalactites Cave", in the Judean hills
* Ofra region, Palestinian territories
* The Upper Galilee region

Japan

* Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park, Akiyoshi Plateau, Japan
* Atetsudai and Taishakudai Plateaus, Japan
* Shikoku Karst, Japan
* Kokura Minami-ku, Kitakyūshū, Hiraodai Plateau, Japan
* Okinoerabujima Island and other islets of Ryukyu Islands, Japan

Laos

* Khammouane Province, 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

Myanmar

* Shan State, Kayin State, Kayah State

Palestine

* Ofra region, Palestinian territories

Philippines

* El Nido, Palawan, El Nido, Palawan, Philippines
* Coron, Palawan, 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, Carles, Iloilo
* Negros Island, Negros Oriental, Philippines
* Virac, Catanduanes, Virac, Catanduanes, Philippines
* Caramoan Peninsula, Camarines Sur, Philippines
* Cebu Province, Philippines

South Korea

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

Thailand

* Ao Phang Nga National Park, Thailand
* Krabi Province, 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
* Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, Đồng Văn Karst, Global Geoparks Network, 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, Hoher Dachstein, Dachstein, Totes Gebirge, Hochschwab, Rax, and Schneeberg (Alps), Schneeberg.
* Area around Graz, Styria.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

polje, Karst poljes (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian: kraška polja)
* Popovo field, Popovo polje in Herzegovina region of Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Livanjsko field, Livanjsko polje (), near Livno in Tropolje, 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 Tropolje, Završje (Tropolje) region of Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Duvanjsko polje, near Duvno in Tropolje, 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 Tropolje, 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 Mountains, 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 islands of Croatia, the islands in Croatia
* See also: list of caves in Croatia

Czech Republic

* Moravian Karst, Czech Republic
* Bohemian Karst, Czech Republic

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 Mountains, 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-Württemberg

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, World Heritage Site, UNESCO WHS)

Ireland

* The Burren in County Clare
* Ballydotia, near Moycullen, in County Galway
* Dringeen Oughter, Lough Mask, in County Mayo
* Tullyskeherny, near Manorhamilton, in County Leitrim

Italy

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

Lithuania

* North Region, located mostly in Biržai district municipality and Pasvalys district municipality.

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 and the deepest cave in Poland
* Śnieżnik Mountains with the largest cave outside Tatra Mountains, Jaskinia Niedźwiedzia
* Kaczawskie Mountains small region near the town Wojcieszów

Portugal

* Parque Natural das Serras de Aire e Candeeiros, 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
* Tatra Mountains, Tatry, Slovakia
* Nízke Tatry, Slovakia
* Muránska planina, Slovakia

Slovenia

* Region of Inner Carniola, Goriška, Upper Carniola and Lower Carniola
* Karst Plateau ( sl, 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 (Spain), province of Cuenca, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
* El Torcal de Antequera nature preserve, southern Spain
* El Cerro del Hierro, in Sevilla, southern Spain

Sweden

* Various places in the limestone and marl island of Gotland, most notably the Lummelunda cave system. Depending on definition the Rauk, 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

* , 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 .

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, Derbyshire, Matlock, Castleton, Derbyshire, Castleton (including Thor's Cave)
* Mendip Hills including Cheddar Gorge
* Yorkshire Dales including Gaping Gill and the Three Counties System.
* Forest of Dean including the Clearwell Caves and Mines

Northern Ireland

* Marlbank-Cuilcagh Mountain Region, in County Fermanagh

Scotland

* Assynt
*southeast Skye
* near Appin, Kentallen

Wales

* Southern and western regions of the Brecon Beacons National Park
* 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 (Canada), Marble Canyon, British Columbia
* Monkman Provincial Park, British Columbia
* Northern Vancouver Island, British Columbia
* Niagara Escarpment, Ontario
*The Greater Napanee, Napanee Limestone Plain, Ontario
* Port au Port Peninsula, Newfoundland (island), Newfoundland
* Nahanni National Park Reserve, Nahanni region in the Northwest Territories
* Wood Buffalo National Park in Alberta and the Northwest Territories
* Avon Peninsula, Nova Scotia
* St-Jude, Quebec

Mexico

* Cenotes of the Yucatán Peninsula, Yucatán Peninsula
* Sótanos of the Sierra Gorda, Querétaro
* Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park, Cacahuamilpa grottos, Guerrero
* Chiapas Plateau, Chiapas
** Nahá–Metzabok
* Sierra de Tamaulipas
** Zacatón

United States

Alaska
* Kosciusko Island, southeastern Alaska
Arizona
* Texas Canyon, Cochise County, Arizona, Cochise County
Florida
* Much of Florida’s landscape is composed of “karst” landforms
Florida Karst Topography

Florida Karst Resources
Illinois
* Illinois Caverns State Natural Area and Illinois Sinkhole Plain in Monroe County, Illinois, Monroe County
Indiana
* Mitchell Plain and uplands of southern Indiana

Kentucky
* Bluegrass region of Kentucky
* Mammoth Cave National Park, 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 (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 Drainage basin, 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

* Northern Karst (Puerto Rico), Northern Karst of Puerto Rico
*Southern Karst (Puerto Rico), Southern Karst of Puerto Rico

South America

Brazil

* Lagoa Santa Karst, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Chile

* Madre de Dios Island and Guarello Island (the world's southernmost limestone mine), Magallanes Region, 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, Katherine, Northern Territory
* Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, near Margaret River, south west Western Australia
* Northern Swan Coastal Plain, Perth, Western Australia, 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 (New Zealand), 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)

Papua New Guinea

* Nakanai Mountains, East New Britain

References

{{Commons category, Karst topography

Karst, .
Karst formations, 01
Geology-related lists, Karst
Lists of landforms, Karst areas
Dinaric karst formations