Caves, springs, disappearing streams and other curious features characterize much of the Missouri landscape. These features comprise a karst hydrological system that has formed many of Missouri’s natural wonders. Missouri’s karst, and indeed the karst that underlies approximately 20% of the land on Earth, is also very vulnerable to contamination and the impacts of humans. This course will explore Missouri’s caves and karst, describe how these hydrological systems form, and talk about how speleologists work to protect these valuable water resources.
OBJECTIVES
At the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Define "karst".
- Describe how karst systems form.
- Explore (digitally) the cave systems of Missouri.
- Examine conservation efforts.
