Question 2
1 / 1 pts
Karst involves landscapes created from rocks that dissolve. While limestone
is the most typical rock that dissolves, halite (sodium chloride) salt can also
create karst landforms. Please look immediately to the east of the Tuomu
Erfeng Shenqi Grand Canyon in Xinjiang, China (
N 41.557846, E
80.772667
). There is also a larger feature to the northwest (N 41.618222, E
80.627570). If you look at these forms in Google Earth, you will see a bizzare
landscape. This is what the landscape looks like on the ground:
http://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/86000/86861/awate_ph
o.jpg
Links to an external site.
This features would completely dissolve away in a humid climate. However,
in this hyperarid area, the salt absorbs enough moisture to ooze and flow
with gravity creating this form. If you want to read more about this form, just
click here:
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=86861
Links to an
external site.
The question: what is the best term for this feature?
halite dome
Correct!
salt glacier
salt river
cave system
This link in the question gives you lots of information about these amazing
"salt glacier" karst desert landscapes:
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=86861
Links to an
external site.
