Karst topography is created by the chemical weathering process of CARBONATION. Carbonation affects limestone and other carbonate rocks. The action of carbonation creates a distinctive landscape of little surface drainage, sink holes, caves and cockpits.
Rain water mixes with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to form a weak carbonic acid. The carbonic acid then reacts with the calcium carbonate in the rocks to form a soluble calcium bicarbonate that is easily washed away by water.