Lake: Ocean and Lakes
LAKE
A lake is a body of relatively still water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land apart from a river, stream, or other form of moving water that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper thanponds.[1][2] Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams, which are usually flowing. However most lakes are fed and drained by rivers and streams.Natural lakes are generally found in mountainous areas, rift zones, and areas with ongoing glaciation. Other lakes are found in endorheic basins or along the courses of mature rivers. In some parts of the world there are many lakes because of chaotic drainage patterns left over from the last Ice Age. All lakes are temporary over geologic time scales, as they will slowly fill in with sediments or spill out of the basin containing them.
Many lakes are artificial and are constructed for industrial or agricultural use, for hydro-electric power generation or domestic water supply, or for aesthetic or recreational purposes.
Lake, large, inland body of fresh or salty standing water. Lakes are distinguished from bodies of water such as bays and gulfs, and some seas, that have an interchange with the ocean and are subject to tides. Lake basins are formed by many geologic processes, such as buckling of stratified rock into large folds, displacement of large masses of rock by faults (see Fault), and blocking of valleys by landslides. Lakes also form by glaciation. Glaciers carve out large basins by scooping up bedrock and redistributing loose material. Many of the lakes of North America formed this way, including the Great Lakes and New York's Finger Lakes. The source of lake water is atmospheric precipitation that reaches the lake directly and by means of springs, brooks, and rivers. Lakes form and disappear over the course of varying lengths of geologic time (see Chronology). They may evaporate, as
A lake is a body of relatively still water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land apart from a river, stream, or other form of moving water that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper thanponds.[1][2] Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams, which are usually flowing. However most lakes are fed and drained by rivers and streams.Natural lakes are generally found in mountainous areas, rift zones, and areas with ongoing glaciation. Other lakes are found in endorheic basins or along the courses of mature rivers. In some parts of the world there are many lakes because of chaotic drainage patterns left over from the last Ice Age. All lakes are temporary over geologic time scales, as they will slowly fill in with sediments or spill out of the basin containing them.
Many lakes are artificial and are constructed for industrial or agricultural use, for hydro-electric power generation or domestic water supply, or for aesthetic or recreational purposes.
Lake, large, inland body of fresh or salty standing water. Lakes are distinguished from bodies of water such as bays and gulfs, and some seas, that have an interchange with the ocean and are subject to tides. Lake basins are formed by many geologic processes, such as buckling of stratified rock into large folds, displacement of large masses of rock by faults (see Fault), and blocking of valleys by landslides. Lakes also form by glaciation. Glaciers carve out large basins by scooping up bedrock and redistributing loose material. Many of the lakes of North America formed this way, including the Great Lakes and New York's Finger Lakes. The source of lake water is atmospheric precipitation that reaches the lake directly and by means of springs, brooks, and rivers. Lakes form and disappear over the course of varying lengths of geologic time (see Chronology). They may evaporate, as