Rock types and the landscapes they can create. For Leaving Certificate Geography (Ireland)

2.  ¼ of the world’s population live in Karst areas (most of
this ¼ is found in China)
 Formed by Chemical weathering (from rainwater) and
erosion

11.  Lack of rivers/lakes
 Presence of Swallow Holes – where water disappears
underground
 Presence of hollows – dolines
 Presence of underground water (in caves)

12.  Limestone is permeable (water can pass through)
 Well jointed (vertical “gaps”)
 Has bedding planes (horizontal “gaps” between layers)
 Easily chemically weathered

21.  Many cave features are formed by Deposition
 Rainwater (slightly acidic from the CO2 in the air) dissolves
Calcium Carbonate in Limestone.
 The dissolved Calcium Carbonate (called Calcite) is deposited
in caves

26.  Important source of water – many springs in Limestone
areas.
 Ballygowan water – from limestone area in Limerick

27.  Very important for tourism
◦ Caves are tourist attractions (e.g. Ailwee Cave)
◦ Unique landscape
◦ Planning restrictions mean landscape is kept unspoilt – no
housing estates/McDonalds/Shopping centres allowed
◦ Historic features

28.  Unique Ecosystem…. Unusual plants and animals

29.  Engineering difficulties
◦ Caves may collapse
◦ Industrial Development Restricted
◦ Problems with fresh water contamination due to permeable
nature of landscape – fertiliser, sewerage etc can easily
contaminate drinking water supplies
◦ Agricultural development restricted – farming is difficult