Karst lake
Karst lakes are formed as the result of a collapse of caves, especially in water-soluble rocks such as limestone, gypsum and dolomite. This process is known as karstification. They can cover areas of several 100 square kilometres. Their shallow lakebed is usually an insoluble layer of sediment so that water is impounded, leading to the formation of lakes. Many karst lakes only exist periodically, but return regularly after heavy rainfall.Distribution
Karst lakes are found in the area around the Harz Mountains of Germany, in South Germany, in France in the region of Quercy, in Estonia the Tudre, in Slovenia, in Ireland the so-called turloughs and some in the United States. Even the Cenotes in the north of the Mexican peninsula of Yucatán, which were known by the Mayans, may be classed as karst lakes.
