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Story: Limestone country

Dolines in north Otago

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Dolines in north Otago

This cratered landscape in north Otago is actually a series of dolines or sinkholes. Sinkholes, like other karst landscape features, are caused by slightly acidic water eating away at limestone over millions of years. They are often formed by the collapse of a small cave beneath the surface.

Using this item

GNS Science

Reference: CN42743/11

by Lloyd Homer

Permission of GNS Science must be obtained before any use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Paul Williams, Limestone country – Other karst features, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/12408/dolines-in-north-otago (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Paul Williams, published 1 March 2009.