Tennessee’s ground is home to a hidden network of karst terrain. This terrain is shaped by erosion of soluble bedrock. About 25% of the state is covered in limestone and dolomite, perfect for sinkholes. TNLandforms.com shows Anderson County has 625 mapped depressions. This gives us a better look at sinkhole distribution in the area. In […]
Tennessee’s landscape is shaped by dissolving bedrock, creating a network of geological features. About 25% of the state’s terrain is soluble limestone, perfect for sinkholes. These depressions form over centuries as water erodes rock layers, leaving cavities on the surface. Advanced mapping, like Digital Elevation Model (DEM) analysis, uncovers sinkhole patterns. Studies found 239 confirmed […]
Tennessee’s karst corridor has a hidden story beneath its surface. McNairy County has only one confirmed sinkhole. But its limestone and dolomite bedrock is very vulnerable. These rocks slowly dissolve with groundwater, creating voids over centuries. Counties like Anderson and White have hundreds of collapse features. This is because of soil differences. Thick clay layers […]
Karst landscapes cover almost 25% of Earth’s land. They form through groundwater dissolving soluble bedrock like limestone. In Middle Tennessee, these processes lead to unstable terrain and sudden collapses. Recent studies show Robertson County is at high risk. It’s along a karst corridor where underground voids often cause surface depressions. USGS topographical surveys found 625 […]
Eastern Tennessee’s landscape has a hidden weakness. It sits on layers of soft carbonate rock. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga geologist Amy Brock-Hon says groundwater’s acidity slowly eats away at these rocks. This creates hidden voids that can collapse suddenly. For centuries, this process has been shaping the area. But people have only noticed it […]
Tennessee’s karst corridor is home to some of North America’s most active sinkholes. This area, covering the Cumberland Plateau, has soluble limestone bedrock. Water erosion makes cavities that collapse into depressions on the surface. In this high-risk zone, Pickett County, TN is at risk. A 2013 study found 315 sinkholes, with 134 over three meters […]
East Tennessee’s unique geology creates natural wonders. The area sits on soluble carbonate bedrock, a key feature of karst terrain found in 42% of the state. Studies in 2023 by TDEC show why sinkholes form where water dissolves underground limestone. Recent studies found high karst activity in one southeastern area. A 2013 analysis found 149 […]
East Tennessee’s karst landscapes pose unique challenges, like in Roane County. About 20% of the U.S. has soluble bedrock that can collapse. This area is in a high-risk zone. There are over 435 depressions in the area, formed by water dissolving limestone. A 2013 study found cavities over 10 feet deep. This shows the ground […]
Central Tennessee’s karst landscape faces unique challenges. The area’s Ordovician limestone is soluble, making it prone to sinkholes. Groundwater and surface water play big roles in these formations. Surveys show overburden depths vary from 15 to 90 feet. This depth affects how likely sinkholes are to form. The region’s stormwater management rules require 60-foot buffers […]