Big Spring: A Karst Topography
Ozark National Scenic Riverways
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
A karst topography is characterized by rolling hills, deep hollows springs, caves, sinkholes and tunnels. Rain water, seeping through soil, becomes slightly acidic. Water penetrates cracks and joints, slowly dissolving porous limestone bedrock. Through time, cracks and joints enlarge, creating a vast underground drainage system.
Big Spring carries 173 tons of dissolved dolomite bedrock away in a day. Over one year, this would equate to a new passage about 11 feet wide, 12 feet high and 1 mile in length.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.
Location. 36° 57.15′ N, 90° 59.49′ W. Marker is in Van Buren, Missouri, in Carter County. Marker is on Pea Vine Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Van Buren MO 63965, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Big Spring (within shouting distance of this marker); Building Human Happiness (approx. 0.3 miles away); There Was Work To Be Done (approx. 0.3 miles away); Camp Hains - 1710 (approx. 0.3 miles away); CCC - A Peace-Time Army
this page online
Credits. This page was last revised on October 25, 2018. It was originally submitted on December 10, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 604 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 10, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
