Peak Cluster Depression Karst Landscape

This is a landform composed of interconnected upward-pointing rock peaks that surround depressions. These peaks are mainly conical, and the bottoms of the depressions are mostly covered with bare rocks or thin soils. Avens (or shafts) are usually developed here. The height difference from the peak to the bottom of the depression can range from tens of metres to more than 500 m. The groundwater is deep, and subterranean rivers are well developed. A typical location that represents the development of this landform is the Qibainong National Geopark in Dahua County, Guangxi Province. This park, which covers 486 km², contains more than 900 rock peaks with heights greater than 800 m, which is an average of 19 peaks per square kilometre. The karst depressions around these peaks have various sizes and depths, creating a spectacular landform. In the language of the minority Yao Group, this type of depression is called ‘nong’. In the Qibainong area, there are approximately 2,566 nongs, an...