Final answer:
The statement is false; karst topography requires significant amounts of water for the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, which is more characteristic of moist climates with sufficient rainfall.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that karst topography develops in dry climates with very little surface or subsurface water is False. Karst landscapes form in areas where there is a significant amount of dissolution of soluble rocks, such as limestone. This process requires the presence of water that can circulate through the rock, which typically occurs in regions with adequate rainfall and available subsurface water that can react with the carbonate bedrock. Karst features, like caves, sinkholes, and underground streams, are created by this reaction and dissolution process.
Karst topography is more commonly associated with moist climates that provide the necessary water for the chemical weathering of limestone or other soluble rocks. In regions with heavy rainfall, like the Viñales Valley in Cuba, karst landscapes not only create picturesque scenery but also contribute to local economies through agriculture and tourism. Dry or arid climates, such as deserts, meanwhile, lack the necessary moisture to develop typical karst features.