Asian Geographic Junior - 08.2018

Stalagmites

These rock formations look like small,

skinny mountains.

How are they formed?

1    Water from the stalactites

sometimes drips onto the ground.

2    Over thousands of years, the

water droplets carr ying the calcium

carbonate form tall mounds

of rock.

Cross-section

of a cave

Sometimes,

the two cones get

so tall that they join,

making a column from

floor to ceiling.

Stalactites

These rock formations look

like giant icicles hanging

from caves.

   Caves are made of a

material called limestone

   Limestone is made out of calcium

carbonate.

How are they formed?

1    Water from the ground seeps into the roof

of the cave and gathers calcium carbonate

as it passes through

2    The water forms droplets that cling to the

ceiling of the cave

3    Over time, the calcium carbonate in the

droplets hardens

4    After thousands of years, giant hanging

cones are formed

Cave Cavern

River

Stalagmite Stalactite

Limestone Column Underground Lake

Limestone

Crack in

Limestone

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No.49 Issue 3