Other Irish landscapes associated with particular rocks are the Mourne Mountains and Wicklow Mountains (granite). International examples of unique landscapes are southwest China (limestone tower karst landscape) and the Deccan Plateau in India (basalt plateau area).
7.2 Limestone landscapes
The unusual landscapes formed by the chemical weathering and erosion of limestone are known as karst or karstic landscapes. There are many karst areas in the world, since limestone is a common rock covering 15% of the earth’s surface. One quarter of the world’s population live in these areas. In Ireland, the Burren in County Clare and the Aran Islands in County Galway are karst landscapes.
The word ‘karst’ comes from the Slovenian word kras meaning bare, stony ground. Some of the best karstic landforms can be seen in Slovenia, Serbia and Croatia.
Fig. 2 Tower karst – China
Fig. 3 Mullaghmore – The Burren, County Clare General characteristics of karst regions
All karst regions share the same characteristics. These are: 1. A lack of surface water because rainwater and rivers are swallowed up by the cracks and fissures in the rock and flow underground very quickly.
2. The presence of swallow holes. 3. The presence of enclosed hollows called dolines. 4. The presence of underground water.