Beobachtungen zum Formenschatz des Küstenkarstes an der kantabrischen Küste bei Santander und Llanes (Nordspanien)

Abstract

While carrying out geomorphological studies on the coast of northern Spain in 1958, 1959 and 1963, observations were also made on the distribution and genesis of karst formation of the coastal region between Santander and Llanes. These karst features belong to a geomorphological complex which has developed in various limestones on marine terraces. In the genesis of these features, which in toto are termed coastal karst, the Quaternary eustatic sea level changes played an important role. These interrelation ships are discussed. Apart from specific features of the barren karst surface, the paper deals in particular with the complex doline vales (formed without any fluvial valley forming processes) as pronouced features of coastal relief, and with such other coastal dolines which owing to breach of their rina by wave action contribute materially to the coastal formation by having become karst bays. Special forms of dolines are described with occur near Llanes and where, via cavities under dolines, surf leads to fountains rising from dolines situated on higher coastal terraces. All larger forms of coastal karst owe their origin to some highly complex morpho-dynamics which on the one hand presupposes increased karst erosion, on the other hand would be inexplicable without reference to a partly direct, partly indirect, influence of the height of the sea level and its Quaternary changes. It is planned to carry out further investigations relating to the features of coastal karst.