Which of the following features is not typically associated with areas of karst topography?

Introduction / Context:

Karst topography is a type of landscape formed primarily by the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It produces distinctive landforms and drainage patterns. Understanding which features belong to karst terrain and which do not is an important part of physical geography, especially when dealing with underground drainage and cave systems. This question asks you to identify a feature that is not typical of karst regions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are dealing with karst topography formed by the chemical weathering of soluble rocks.
• The options are flowing rivers, sinkholes, sinking streams, and caverns.
• Typical karst features include closed depressions, caves, underground streams, and disappearing rivers.
• We assume standard textbook definitions of karst landforms.

Concept / Approach:

Karst landscapes are characterised by underground rather than surface drainage. Water tends to percolate through cracks, dissolve the rock, and form caves, sinkholes, and underground channels. Sinking streams are rivers or streams that disappear underground, and caverns are large underground cave systems. Sinkholes are circular depressions formed when the roof of a cave collapses or rock dissolves below the surface. In contrast, permanent, well developed surface flowing rivers are more typical of non karst regions with surface drainage networks. Thus, flowing rivers in the sense of permanent surface rivers are not considered a defining feature of karst topography.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Physical geography texts that describe karst topography list features such as sinkholes, dolines, uvalas, sinking streams, underground rivers, stalactites, stalagmites, and caverns. They emphasise that surface water is often absent or intermittent because it quickly moves underground. In contrast, well developed dendritic river networks are mentioned as characteristic of non karst regions. Therefore, among the given options, flowing rivers stand out as not being a diagnostic karst feature.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:

Some learners see the word rivers and think of any water feature as belonging to karst topography. Others may not distinguish between surface rivers and underground streams. It is important to remember that karst areas tend to minimise surface drainage and favour underground channels. Thus, features like sinkholes, caves, and disappearing streams belong to karst, while typical surface flowing rivers do not.

Final Answer:

The feature that is not typically associated with karst topography is flowing rivers in the sense of permanent surface channels.