Kentucky’s landscape has a hidden story beneath its surface. Much of the state sits on karst terrain. This is a porous foundation shaped by dissolving limestone over millions of years. This process creates underground drainage systems, sinkholes, and caves. These features are most common in the Eastern Pennyroyal region, where Elliott County is located. Rainwater […]
Central Kentucky is known for its dynamic geological formations. The Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) has mapped these features using advanced technology. They’ve created a 32.4MB dataset that shows important patterns. This area’s limestone bedrock and groundwater systems work together. They create unique terrain features through slow dissolution. In Fleming County, there are 45 verified subsidence […]
Central Kentucky’s karst geology is perfect for sinkholes. Limestone bedrock dissolves, creating underground cavities. These cavities collapse under weight, shaping the landscape for thousands of years. Now, advanced LiDAR technology can spot sinkholes with great accuracy. From 2015, 5-foot DEMs have found even small depressions. The Kentucky Geological Survey’s work combines aerial scans and ground […]
Central Kentucky’s unique geology makes it prone to sudden ground collapses. The area sits on soluble limestone bedrock, typical of karst landscapes. These landscapes dissolve over time, creating caves, springs, and sinkholes. The Kentucky Geological Survey says 92 of Kentucky’s 120 counties have karst terrain. About 20% of these have well-developed features, like those in […]
Eastern Kentucky’s landscape hides complex forces beneath its surface. The region’s Chattanooga Shale formations have pyrite deposits. These react with groundwater, causing swelling soils. These unstable layers meet limestone bedrock, creating perfect conditions for sudden ground collapses. The Kentucky Geological Survey has mapped 147 subsidence features in this area. They show patterns tied to ancient […]
Kentucky’s landscape is full of hidden underground features. These are shaped by its unique geology. Over 40% of the state sits on karst terrain, which is prone to sinkholes and caves. This geological reality affects 92 counties. The Western Pennyroyal region is a hotspot for these formations. The dissolution of limestone and dolomite creates unstable […]
Central Kentucky’s Inner Bluegrass region has a hidden secret. Clark County is on top of a karst landscape. This area has soluble limestone that slowly dissolves, creating caves, sinking streams, and sinkholes. Karst terrain maps show where this process happens most. Kentucky Geological Survey data shows over 55% of Clark County has rock that can […]
South-central Kentucky has a hidden world beneath its surface. The area’s karst geology is perfect for sinkholes. Limestone bedrock dissolves slowly, creating underground spaces that collapse. This creates 842 documented depressions in Clinton County alone. The landscape is shaped by groundwater dynamics. Rainwater flows through soil, becoming slightly acidic. Over time, it widens cracks in […]
The unique geology of northern Kentucky’s karst terrain makes sinkholes common. Limestone bedrock dissolves over time due to water, creating underground cavities. These cavities collapse under pressure. The Kentucky Geological Survey has mapped three verified sinkholes in the area. Local authorities use a technical framework to classify sinkhole risks. This framework is outlined in the […]