CHAPTER XIV

THE TRAVELS OF THE UNDERGROUND WATER

The descent within the unsaturated zone—The trunk channels of descending water—The caverns of limestones—Swallow holes and limestone sinks—The sinter deposits—The growth of stalactites—Formation of stalagmites—The Karst and its features—A desert from the destruction of forests—The ponore and the polje—The return of the water to the surface—Artesian wells—Hot springs and geysers—The deposition of siliceous sinter by plant growth—Reading references 180