 |
Caves such as this one can be found throughout the calenques.
This is formed by chemical dissolution. |
 |
In the top left corner of this picture there is a debris slide
showing slope and gravity working into physical weathering.
Colluvium in this slide is creating friction on the way down.
The people and water are also creating physical weathering.
Trees growing from the fractures in the rock are expanding
the cracks as they grow further breaking the formation. |
There are several processes of weathering that play into the way the landforms
in Calanque National Park look. There are physical processes of weathering as
well as chemical processes of weathering working at the same time. Wind, water,
slope, and gravity all have their roles in the physical decay of this
sedimentary landscape. Fluvial forces, such as rivers and streams, have a heavy
role in not only the physical weathering, but also lead to the chemical process
of decay. The reaction of water with the limestone which makes up most of the
landscape creates a carbonic acid.
This
acid starts a process of dissolution of the rock. This chemical breakdown can
cause very interesting formations such as monoliths, caves and chasms which add
to the awesome visual that this region provides. The limestone formations with
very few other types of rocks, soils or other biological matter are called a
Karst topography.
This name comes from
similar formations found in Eastern Europe.
Streams coming through this Karst landscape over millions of years have
not only provided the water which acts as a catalyst to the chemical process,
but also carry out any alluvium that was created by other physical processes.
Where these streams are eating their way
through the landscape there are inlets coming off of the Mediterranean
Sea.
These inlets are called Calanques
and they can be seen in many places along the coast.
In the Calanque National Park there is a
large distribution of these inlets in a small area thanks to our weathering
processes.
These two photos give another view of the forms created by chemical and mechanical weathering
References:
Allen, Casey. Class Lecture. Introduction to
Physical Geography. University of Colorado Denver,
Denver, CO. Aug.- Dec. 2012.
Speer,
David. "Crystal Cave: Karst Topography." 12/15/06. Web. 10/8/12. http://www.uwec.edu/jolhm/Cave2006/Karst.html
Photos:
http://marseillez.free.fr/marseille_e.html
depositphotos.com
