（1）什么是喀斯特？
喀斯特即岩溶，是水对可溶性岩石进行以化学溶蚀作用为主，流水的冲蚀、潜蚀和崩塌等机械作用为辅的地质作用，以及由这些作用所产生的现象的总称。由喀斯特作用形成的地貌，称喀斯特地貌（岩溶地貌）。“喀斯特”原是南斯拉夫西北部伊斯特拉半岛上的石灰岩高原的地名，那里有发育典型的岩溶地貌。
(1) What is Karst?
Karst refers to the phenomena caused by geological processes such as the dissolution of soluble rocks by chemical dissolution, the erosion of sedimentary water, and mechanical actions like collapse. The landform formed by karst is called karst landform. The “karst” was originally the name of the limestone plateau on the Istrian peninsula in the northwest of Yugoslavia, where there is a typical karst landform.
（2）喀斯特地貌的形成条件
(2) The Formation Conditions of Karst Landform
（一）岩石具有可溶性
Rock has solubility.
可溶性岩石是喀斯特地貌发育的物质基础。公园范围内可溶性岩石主要为灰岩、白云岩及泥灰岩等。
Soluble rock is the material basis for the formation of karst landform. The soluble rocks within the Geopark are mainly limestone, dolomite and marlstone.
（二）岩石具有裂隙
Rock has fissures.
岩石具有一定的孔隙和裂隙，它们是流动水下渗的主要通道。岩石裂隙越大，岩石的透水性越强，溶蚀作用越显著，喀斯特地貌发育越完整，并且形成一个不断扩大的循环网。
Rocks have certain pores and fissures which are the main channels for infiltration of running water. The greater the fissures are, the stronger the permeability of the rock is. The more obvious the dissolution is, the more complete the development of karst landform is. And then a continuously expanding circulation network is formed.
（三）水具有溶蚀能力
Water has the capacity for dissolution.
水的溶蚀能力来源于二氧化碳（CO2）与水结合形成的碳酸（H2CO3），二氧化碳是喀斯特地貌形成的功臣。
Dissolution of water depends on the carbonic acid formed by combination of water with carbon dioxide which is the hero of the formation of karst landform.
下面几个化学方程式反映了岩溶作用的进行：
The following chemical equations reflect the progress of karst:
① H2O + CO2=H2CO3；（形成碳酸）(Formation of carbonic acid)
② H2CO3=H+ + HCO3－；（碳酸离解生成H+）(H+ is formed by the dissociation of carbonic acid)
③ H++CaCO3=HCO3－+Ca2+;（H+与CaCO3反应生成HCO3－，从而使CaCO3溶解）(The reaction of H+ with calcite generates bicarbonate, leading to the dissolution of calcite)
（四）水具有流动性
Water has fluidity.
流动的水溶蚀性更强烈一些，因为水中的二氧化碳需要得到及时的补充，水的溶蚀作用才能顺利进行，水的溶蚀能力才得以巩固加强。同时，流动的水带动河底砂砾对岩石进行机械侵蚀，这样更有利于岩溶作用的深入。
The flowing water is more corrosive. Due to the replenishment of carbon dioxide timely, the dissolution of water can proceed smoothly and the dissolution ability can be consolidated and strengthened. At the same time, the flowing water drives the river bottom gravels to mechanically erode the rocks, which is more conducive to the deepening of the karst.
元古宙时本区处于古扬子板块南缘的边缘海，属过渡型地壳，由于地壳拉张，形成四堡断裂（约距今11亿年左右），区域地壳变薄下陷，开始接受来自陆源的碎屑沉积物。距今约10亿年前的中元古代时期，地壳不断拉张，下切地幔，致使大量岩浆上侵、喷发地表。
During the Proterozoic, the Geopark area was in the marginal sea at the southern margin of the ancient Yangtze Plate, belonging to transitional crust. Due to the crustal extension, the Sibao fault was formed (about 1.1 billion years ago). The regional crust became thin and sunk, and it began to accept terrigenous clastic sediments. In the Mesoproterozoic period about 1 billion years ago, the earth's crust was continuously extended and the mantle was cut down, causing a large amount of magma to intrude and erupt.
到距今6亿年左右，受大范围的加里东运动影响，扬子板块和华夏板块的相互挤压，使区域地壳抬升，形成了桂北加里东期褶皱山，褶皱面的轴面倾向NWW，倾角近于直立，褶皱枢纽呈NNE向。
Up to 0.6 billion years ago, affected by the large-scale Caledonian movement, the extrusion between Yangtze Plate and Cathaysia Plate led to the uplift of regional crust, therefore formed the Caledonian folded mountain in northern Guangxi. The axial plane dips towards NWW, the dip angle is nearly erect, and the strike of fold hinge is NNE.
到距今4亿年左右，平果北部地区受海西运动的影响，继续隆升，成为露出海面的陆地和剥蚀区；南部相对拗陷，发育巨厚的海相地层，但是基底断裂构造活动较为活跃。到距今2亿5千万年左右，强烈的印支运动，将本区抬升海面，平果全面脱离漫长的海洋环境，接受大自然的剥蚀。
Up to 0.4 billion years ago, the northern part of Pingguo was affected by the Hercynian movement and continued to uplift, and was exposed and denuded; The south was relatively depressed, and thick marine strata were developed, but the tectonic activity of basement faults was active. Up to 250 million years ago, due to the strong Indosinian movement, the area was uplifted and exposed, then Pingguo area finished long-term marine environment and received denudation from the nature.
从6千5百万年前至今，喜山运动使得区域地壳沿断裂发生差异性升降，伴着岩体本身的裂隙与节理，风化速度加快，最终形成区域地质遗迹景观。
Since 65 million years ago, the Himalaya movement had caused the differential rise and fall of the regional crustal along the fault, accompanied by fissures and joints of the rocks, the weathering speed was accelerated, eventually formed a regional geosite landscape.
喀斯特地貌即岩溶地貌，是发育在石灰岩和白云岩为主的碳酸盐岩上的地貌。我国的喀斯特地貌主要分布在广西、贵州以及云南东部，是世界上最大的喀斯特区之一。广西平果平治河岩溶发育主要是印支、燕山运动的结果，呈现了庞大的洞穴沉积物景观和浓缩的坡立谷地貌景观。
Karst landform is formed in carbonate rocks which mainly consist of limestone and dolomite. As one of the largest karst areas all over the world, the karst landform in China is mainly distributed in Guangxi, Guizhou and eastern Yunnan. The Guangxi Pingguo karst landform mainly resulted from the Indosinian and Yanshanian movements, presenting a huge cave sediment landscape and a concentrated polje landscape.公园在地球演化的漫长历史时期，受构造运动的影响，地壳发生多次间歇性抬升，岩体节理裂隙发育。当雨水或地下水与碳酸盐类岩石接触时，会生成可溶于水的碳酸氢钙，且岩溶作用持续进行，经过长期的溶解和侵蚀，最终塑造了平果平治河地区坡立谷地貌景观、穿洞景观、溶洞景观等多姿多彩的岩溶地貌景观。
During the long history of earth’s evolution, affected by tectonic movements, the crust in Pingguo Geopark had gone through intermittent uplifts for many times, during which joints and fissures were developed. When rainwater or groundwater met carbonate rocks, water-soluble calcium bicarbonate was formed, and the karstification continued. After long-term dissolution and erosion, the poljes, light-through cavities, karst caves and other colorful cave landscapes in Pingguo Pingzhi river area were eventually formed.
穿洞形成于溶蚀发育的洞穴，是已脱离地下水位、高悬于山体上部且两端为开口状的残留通道。洞壁常有边槽、流痕、贝窝等形态，洞体成通道式，是流水岩溶的一种标志性形态。广西平果平治河岩溶自治区级地质公园内穿洞众多，其中月亮山穿洞和光岩穿洞颇具代表性。
The light-through cavity is formed in the cave where the dissolution is developed. It is a residual channel that is out of the underground water table and at the top of the mountain, with open ends. Side grooves, solutional ripples and scallops were developed on the wall of the light-through cavities. It is a symbolic form of flowing water karst. There are many light-through cavities in the Pingzhi River Karst Autonomous Region Geopark in Pingguo Pingzhi River Karst Autonomous Region-level Geopark, Guangxi. Among them, the Moon mountain light-through cavity and the Guangyan light-through cavity are quite representational.
月亮山高×宽×厚约150m×140m×15m，其穿洞高约80m，宽仅15m，厚约15m。穿洞下部可见崩塌堆积物，目前已被植被所覆盖。洞顶可见少量已停止发育的石钟乳。山体两面贯通，远看酷似天上高挂的明月，因而得名“月亮山穿洞”。月亮山穿洞是地下水精心雕刻的“艺术品”，具有极高的美学价值。
Moon mountain is 150m high, 140m wide and 15m thick. And the light-through cavity in the Moon mountain is about 80m high, 15m wide and 15m thick. At the lower part of the light-through cavity, collapsed deposits can be seen, and are now covered by vegetation. A small number of stalactites that have stopped developing can be seen at the top of the cave. The two sides of the mountain are connected, and it looks like a bright moon hanging in the sky from a distance, hence the name "Moon mountain light-through cavity". The Moon mountain light-through cavity is an artwork carved out by groundwater and has very high aesthetic value.
早期由于构造运动，地壳抬升，岩体节理裂隙发育。地下水长期溶蚀山体，将山体内部掏空，形成地下溶洞。在水流长时间冲刷作用下，溶洞所在山体逐渐被溶蚀、坍塌，最终前后相通，后因地壳再次抬升、地下水位下降而逐渐出露于地表。
In the early stage, due to tectonic movements, the crust was uplifted, joints and fissures in the rock were developed. Because of long-term dissolution of groundwater to mountain, the inner part of mountain was empty and the underground karst cave was formed. Under the long-term scouring of flowing water, the mountain with karst cave was gradually eroded and collapsed. Finally, the front and back parts of the mountain were connected. Then as the crust was uplifted again, the groundwater level dropped and the karst cave was exposed.
峰丛是由基座相连，顶部为圆锥状或尖锥状的若干山峰构成的地貌景观。此处岩溶峰丛位于新勉村小学东北侧150m，远观似一位卧躺的少女，栩栩如生，因而得名“睡美人”，具有较高的美学价值。
The peak cluster is a geomorphic landscape composed of a number of conical or cone-shaped peaks with connected bases. The karst peak cluster here is located 150m northeast of the Xinmian village primary school. It looks like a lying young girl, so it is called “Sleeping Beauty”, with high aesthetic value.
峰丛是由基座相连，顶部为圆锥状或尖锥状的若干山峰构成的地貌景观，此处岩溶峰丛最高山峰相对于地面高度约460m。远观，宛若十二座或坐或躺的佛，栩栩如生。崖壁上有极具历史人文底蕴的崖葬，为其增添了一丝神秘的色彩。
The peak cluster is a geomorphic landscape composed of a number of conical or cone-shaped peaks with connected bases. The highest peak of the peak clusters here is about 460m above the ground. The peak clusters look like 12 sitting or lying Buddhas from a distance. On the walls of the peaks, there are some cliff burials with great historical and cultural value, adding mystery to the peak clusters.千斤顶位于坡立谷残丘地带，出露地层为泥盆系东岗岭组。上部岩石崩落，压在下部的岩石上，接触面较小，形似顶起重物的千斤顶，故而得名。下部岩石呈现明显的厚层灰岩和中薄层灰岩互层现象。
Grotesquely-shaped rock (Lifting jack) is located in the residual dome of polje, and the exposed stratum is the Devonian Donggangling Formation. The upper part of the rock collapsed and pressed on the rock below with a relatively small contact surface, which resembles a lifting jack for lifting heavy objects. The rock below is interbedded with thick and medium-thin limestone.
根抱石即树根紧贴岩石生长，最终将石块紧紧包裹，形成包石现象。此处两颗小叶榕生长在两个相邻的巨大的灰岩石块上，如同双生子，规模之大较为罕见，故称“双生根抱石”。
The root bouldering refers to the phenomenon that the tree roots grow around the rocks, and finally the rocks are tightly wrapped by the roots. Here, two Ficus microcarpa grow on two adjacent huge limestones, like twins. and its large scale is relatively rare, so it is called "Twinning root bouldering".坡立谷又称岩溶盆地或岩溶平原，指喀斯特地区宽阔而平坦的谷地。谷地两侧多被峰林夹峙，谷坡急陡，但谷底平坦，横剖面如槽形。谷地内常有过境河穿过，由谷地一端流出，至另一端潜入地下。平治河坡立谷地貌带面积小、岩溶形态发育齐全、穿洞紧邻河面，“一条河，一群山，一组洞”是对平治河及其周边坡立谷地貌带的完美概括。
Polje, also known as karst basin or karst plain, refers to a wide and flat valley in the karst area. The two sides of the valley are often caught in between peak forests. The canyon slope is steep, but the bottom is flat and the cross section is like a trough. There are often some rivers through the valley, which flow from one end of the valley and dive into the underground. The Pingzhi river polje landform is small in size, while it is complete in karst forms. And the light-through cavities is close to the river. “One river, a group of mountains, and a group of caves” is a perfect summary of the Pingzhi river and poljes around it.