17 Lake Facts For Kids: This Will Amaze You!

A lake is a water body that is surrounded by land and not fed by or drained by other rivers or similar outlet forms.

Lakes can be large or small, and they originate inside basins, which are craters or holes in the bowl-shaped ground. Rivers or streams usually flow into the lake and drain water out when it becomes too full.

Lakes are extremely intricate bodies of water with constantly changing natural habitats. Lake water is gathered from the land around it and drained into it, making it an important part of the broader ecology. Our way of life is so intertwined with lakes that maintaining their health is critical if we are to continue to enjoy them and for them to thrive in a healthy ecosystem. Freshwater can be found in almost all lakes. Many cities and towns rely on them for drinking water. Rainfall, melting ice, streams, as well as seepage from the ground are all sources of water. Each lake has a significant catchment area that functions similarly to a drainage basin. It's a wide area of land where surface water from rain, snow, ice melting, and rivers flows into a lower-lying lake.

Different Types Of Lakes

Lakes are primarily classified into four types, including temporary, freshwater, permanent, and saline lakes.

Lakes may exist temporarily, filling up the small depressions of the undulating ground after a heavy shower. These are temporary lakes, where evaporation is more than precipitation. Examples of these are small lakes of deserts. Permanent lakes are deep and carry more water than could ever be evaporated. In permanent lakes, the precipitation or rainfall is more than evaporation. Some notable examples are the Great Lakes of North America and the East African Rift Lakes. Most of the world's lakes are freshwater with outflowing streams supplied by rivers. For example, the Great Lakes of North America comprise Lakes Erie, Superior, Huron, Michigan, and Ontario. Salt lakes (also known as saline lakes) arise when there is no natural outlet for the water or when the water evaporates quickly, and the water table's drainage surface has a higher-than-normal salt content. Because of the intense evaporation, these lakes are saline. Examples of salt lakes include the Great Salt Lake, the Aral Sea, and the Dead Sea.

Lakes develop in a variety of ways. When ancient glaciers slid down mountainsides, they occasionally piled up massive mounds of rocks, and rainwater gathered behind them, forming lakes. Volcanoes can also form lakes, and volcanic craters produce crater lakes and calderas. Lakes can also form because of forest fires. When a forest fire rages through a region, it destroys all marsh vegetation, forming grounds for the creation of a lake.

Also, it is important to note the difference between a river, a lake, and a pond. A river is a flowing body of water, whereas a lake or pond is a still body of water. Rivers have a current that moves from one location to the next. Rivers can also result in the formation of lakes.

Safety Measure To Be Aware Of Around Lakes

Water adds a thrilling dimension to outdoor activities. But changes in water conditions can surprise even the most seasoned of water enthusiasts. Therefore, it is important to take appropriate safety measures.

Jumping into a lake from a nearby cliff or bridge isn't safe. Particularly if you're new to the lake and unaware of how deep the lake is or whether there are submerged rocks or other hazards in the lake. Although rivers can appear more dangerous due to water flows, it's still important to be safe when swimming in lakes. Knowing the temperature is crucial when boating or swimming as thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds can prove extremely dangerous. Lacerations from broken glass, sharp metal, clamshells, fishing hooks, and other sharp things are always a possibility on the lake. In this situation, seek proper medical attention after undertaking basic care procedures.

Choosing Lake Activities For Family Fun

There are many fun activities that you could enjoy around or on the lake during family trips. Swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, and camping are just a few of the activities available on lakes. Many lakes around the world have paddle boating and some lakes have aquariums and wildlife parks, which can be delightful to explore when taking a vacation. Lakes like Lake Geneva and Lake Tahoe in the United States provide exciting opportunities for such activities and more.

Cool Facts About Lakes

There are many cool facts about lakes that people are unaware of like that Earth's surface has 117 million lakes, covering over 3.7 % of the surface.

Let's take a look at the largest lakes in the world. The Caspian Sea is considered to be the world's largest lake. The Caspian Sea is considered both a sea and a lake. Around 5.5 million years ago, the saltwater sea was once connected to the world's oceans, but today it's landlocked. Lake Superior is known as the largest freshwater lake in the world, considering the surface area. Lake Superior is part of the Great Lakes, a series of interconnected freshwater lakes found in the mid-east region of North America. The Great Lakes is the biggest group of lakes with fresh water. The Great Slave Lake is the largest lake in South America. The western hemisphere's largest saltwater lake, the Great Salt Lake is only 32.80 ft (10 m) deep.

The Dead Sea is the lowest lake in the world. It's 1371 ft (418 m) below sea level and is also one of the saltiest lakes in the world. The crater lake of Ojos del Salado is the highest lake in the world. It's a small lake at 20964 ft (6390 m) above sea level. This mountain lake lies on the border of Argentina and Chile. The vast Lake Baikal is known to be the deepest lake in the world at a depth of 5471 ft (1637 m). In Africa, Lake Tanganyika is the longest lake and second largest lake by volume and depth, at 410 mi (660 km). Finland is popularly called 'Land of the Thousand Lakes' as it has about 187,000 lakes!