Distribution of world karst and China karst

The karst distribution area in the world is about 18,000,000 km2, occupying 15% of total land area and the karst distributed is in 40 countries in the world, and almost 1/6 of world population (about one billion people) live in karst areas. The karst distribution area in China is up to 3,440,000 km2, occupying 1/3 of national territorial area, among which, the exposed area of carbonatite takes up 910,000 km2.

The ancient and rigid carbonatite, monsoon climate with water and heat, Cenozoic crust raising upwards and the fact that no erosion occurred during the last glacial period enable China to form all kinds of karsts; especially the karst distribution area reaches 500,000 km2 in south of China, which is the largest contiguous exposed area of carbonatite in the world. Represented by peak forest- plain, peak cluster- depression, stone forest, karst valley and large-scale ground karst caves, it is a rare and precious “Natural karst archives museum” in the world.


Distribution diagram of karst areas in the world and in China