Chapter 6: KARSTS AND CAVES OF HEFENG COUNTY (HUBEI)

Résumé -Abstract - Zusammenfassung -:The mountainous county of Hefeng located in the SW corner of Hubei, near the Wufeng county, culminates at 2326 m. It is a SW-NE folded area, of Permian and Trias limestones. The type of the karst is qiufeng-ouvala, with poljes and canyons. The humid subtropical climate (P = 1687 mm/year and T =16 °C in Hefeng, alt. 520 m) presents a pluviometric amplitude marked between winter and summer (january/26 mm, july/304 mm).
 During a three days reconnaissance trip, we surveyed 3,3 km in seven caves. These caves are distributed amongst two hydrogeological systems, lined up on the Hefeng syncline and located on both sides of the Loushuihe river. The Yanziping system, on the NE side, is fed by sinkholes whose water resurges probably at the Wanrendong emergence-cave. On the SW side, the Taiping system drains a large polje (Cedong ponor-cave). Located in the bottom of the Loushuihe valley, the Yinquandong emergence-cave (1,3 km), resurgence of the system, is a good example of an underground delta with stepped levels.

Keywords : limestone, Permian, Trias, qiufeng, ouvala, polje, ponor, underground delta, cave levels, resurgence, canyon, climate, hydrogeological system, Hefeng, Hubei.