Characteristics of karst landscapes in Non nuoc Cao Bang Geopark
Monday - 17/03/2025 11:47
Non nuoc Cao Bang Geopark is an exceptional territory where it is possible to learn about the Earth's 500 million-year history through the remaining traces: fossils, marine sediments, volcanic rocks, minerals, especially limestone landscapes, which are wonderful evidence of the evolution and change of the Earth.
Mature karst landscape in Duc Long commune (Thach An).
Karst terrain in Cao Bang can be divided into 4 phases: 1. Primitive karst; 2. Young karst; 3. Mature karst and senescent karst (remnants). The richness of karst terrain has created majestic, poetic and unique beauty in Non nuoc Cao Bang Geopark.
The primitive karst terrain has not been affected by dissolution, driftwood washing, deep erosion to create pits, funnels, and depressions. Due to faulting activities, they create a range-shaped terrain difference, so along it there are many steep cliffs that represent range-shaped karst terrain.
Young karst terrain is mainly concentrated in Ha Quang district, on the exposed area of Carboniferous-Permian limestone. About 100m south and southeast (195°) from Ha Quang district People's Committee, belonging to the famous karst block of Northeastern Vietnam is Luc Khu block, the block gradually decreases in height from 1,000 m in the northwest to 700 m in the southeast, gradually transitioning into a very large karst area in the east of Ma Phuc pass, which is a young karst landscape.
Luc Khu landscape (Ha Quang).
If the young karst landscape of Ha Quang is evolving to the mature stage, it will be a mountain range with rugged, steep and dangerous features with overlapping peaks and jagged cat-ear shaped carens, then the karst landscape in Phong Nam with the southwest wing terrain reflects the karst evolution process in the mature stage, partly due to the dissolution erosion process, partly due to the influence of the fault system that extends and connects the bottom, creating gradually expanding valleys that connect with each other and gradually evolve to form a karst field.
The limestone peaks representing the senescent karst stage are the connected karst peaks that are also lowered to the saddle level, some places are lowered to the bottom of the accumulation plain, disappearing and bringing with them the existence of independent karst peaks in the shape of bells and blunt cones. Rising in the middle of the vast plain, there exist a few independent limestone blocks or separate peak clusters on the accumulation plain that have extremely special and unique aesthetic values. They are cones and towers intertwined like pyramids and pillars supporting the sky of creation. Together with the majestic limestone mountain range stretching across the surface of the vast, gentle plain, all have blended to create a majestic but also poetic beauty.
Karst landscapes are the product of the process of karst driftwood washing and chemical weathering in the tropics, representing the active stages in the karst geomorphological cycle.
Keo Yen landscape (Ha Quang).
Non Nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Global Geopark is promised to be a destination to explore the traces of Neotectonic activities, to explore the amazing natural landscapes - the product of the natural driftwood washing and weathering process in the area.
To protect and promote the geological heritage value of Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark in a sustainable manner, therefore, the Management Board of Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark has implemented training courses to raise awareness of the Geopark for the community, students of secondary and high schools in the Geopark area, contributing to raising awareness and sense of community responsibility in protecting and promoting geological heritage, cultural, landscape and biodiversity.