Book excerpt: The book provides a characteristic of sulfate karst, the features of its distribution and development in the Perm region, based on their own research and generalization of data accumulated in recent years. An updated zoning of the territory is given, partly based on the use of GIS technologies. This book also offers a detailed description of areas with characteristics of geological and hydrogeological conditions for the development of karst and karst phenomena. Besides, it also provides a detailed description of a number of caves, information about specially protected natural areas associated with sulfate karst and new unique objects that need protection. The book describes the influence of karst on economic activity and the ecological situation. The publication is intended for geologists, geographers, ecologists, karst scientists, speleologists, local historians, teachers and students of specialties related to earth sciences, as well as a wide range of karst and cave enthusiasts.