10.4.4. Playas

A (shallow) playa lake may form in the central basin of a desert from abundant rainfall on rare occasions Due to evaporation and infiltration the water in these lakes are present for only a few days or weeks--the dry flat lake bed that remains is called a playa. These lakes are temporary in nature.

Desert Fluvial Landforms

11. Karst Topography

In rocks like limestones or dolomites rich in calcium carbonate the surface water as well as groundwater through the chemical process of solution and precipitation develop varieties of landforms. These two processes of solution and precipitation are active in limestones or dolomites occurring either exclusively or interbedded with other rocks. Any limestone or dolomitic region showing typical landforms produced by the action of groundwater through the processes of solution and deposition is called Karst topography .‘Karst’ word comes from the Karst region of Adriatic Sea coast in Croatia (Yugosalvia) where such formations are noticeable.

This region is made up of limestone rocks, where underground water is the most active agent of gradation.