For the first time, I’m participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge! The concept is simple: Each day in April I’ll be blogging on a topic starting with the letter of the day, beginning with A and progressing to Z by the end of the month. Posts will be short and will relate to my chosen theme: my new coming of age story, Rightfully Ours, released April 1.
K is for Karst
We’re almost halfway through the alphabet, and I’m feeling a little loopy. What is “karst” anyway? And why did I choose it over “kiss”?
In Rightfully Ours, between the fracking, a rainy spring, and some other geological factors, conditions are ripe for a phenomenon I’ve seen plenty of in south-central Pennsylvania – the sinkhole. No, karst isn’t precisely what I imagine going on underneath my fictional world, but it’s pretty close, what with limestone deposits being prevalent in these parts.
Karst, terrain usually characterized by barren, rocky ground, caves, sinkholes, underground rivers, and the absence of surface streams and lakes. It results from the excavating effects of underground water on massive soluble limestone. The term originally applied to the Karst (or Kras) physiographic region, a limestone area northeast of the Gulf of Trieste in Slovenia, but has been extended to mean all areas with similar features. (Encylcopeadeia Brittanica)
I’d never heard of karst until I started doing a little book research. Interestingly, this is probably what it looks like deep below our basement! Our house is situated about an eighth of a mile from a natural attraction along the Swatara Creek, Indian Echo Caverns. Our neighbors two doors down said that from their basement, they used to be able to hear the sounds of rushing water.
I’ve always been fascinated by caves, and as kid, on our limited travels, I would beg my parents to stop at them. I’d guess I’ve visited five or six caves over the years, most in Pennsylvania. I’m hoping to visit Mammoth Cave National Park next year with my family!
Have you visited natural caverns?
Visited many caves and caverns – but never been spelunking. There are some wonderful cave systems in Wales that we always visit when back there.
I haven’t tried spelunking either. There was a time when I very much wanted to, but, now, not so much. I’m good in walking through a cave or floating through in a boat.
I love caves as well! My family holidays as a teenager were spent spelunking in some pretty rugged caves south of Sydney. We’d be abseiling through some parts, then wriggling through tiny gaps on our bellies the next minute. We’d all come out covered in mud and pretty work out, ready for a nice dinner around the campfire. Thanks for a great post! Brought back loads of happy memories!
Those sound like great memories! Dinner around a campfire is the best, especially after a long, active day.
Many years ago I did similar research. South Dakota has several big caves, including Jewel Cave (which is near where I imagine my stories taking place) and also Wind Cave. I would love to visit Mammoth Cave someday too!
You do have that little cave in Roland West, Loner! I almost forgot about that.
Have visited Ajanta and Ellora caves in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra state, in India. Since 1983 they have been declared as world heritage sites by UNESCO. Also have visited Elephanta Caves, in Gharapuri, Mumbai India. It is also a world heritage site by UNESCO.
As for the sinkholes and karsts, only have seen it on TV or web… no luck here!
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Anagha From Team MocktailMommies
Collage Of Life
Caves are fascinating the world over!
I’ve never heard of a Karst. Thanks for adding to my vocabulary! K is for Kindle and KDP as you Build a Better Blog. #AtoZchallenge.
Always more to learn! Thanks for visiting.
I love visiting caves! But not really the kind you need equipment for. I tend to prefer not getting dirty and taking advantage of the touristy caves instead. 🙂
With Love,
Mandy
I’m more of a touristy cave person myself.
We have a lot of gold mines where I live, which I guess are sort of manmade caves. I think I visited a real cave once, but most of my experience underground is visiting mines.
Fun post!
Being from Pennsylvania, the only mine I’ve been in is a coal mine.
I ‘ve been it a few caves in Tennessee and north Georgia. When I went on a cruise along the coast of Mexico we did an excursion to a nature area where you could float on an underground river. That was cool (literally). Girl Who Reads
Float on an underground river! I’ve always been fascinated by underground rivers. That is cool.
I have been in many caves, including a few which required hard hats and in which you had to do lots of crawling. They are interesting, as are mines which often exist under houses in coal country or gold country.
http://sagecoveredhills.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-letter-l-is-for-lots-in-our.html
We had a neighbor whose basement had an entrance into a mine shaft. It was the coolest thing when we were kids.
I’ve never heard that term before! Now I’ve learned something new. 🙂
It was new to me too! Always something to learn.