Dry lake

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/dry-lake

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Playas
2. What is the habitat?Endorheic basins in arid and semi-arid regions globally
3. What is a dry lake or playa?A dry lake, called a playa, is a flat basin that fills with water after rain and then dries up, leaving a smooth, salty surface.
4. Why do dry lakes disappear after rain?When rain falls, water collects in the basin, but because the area is very dry, the water evaporates quickly, turning the dissolved salts into a crust on the ground.

Endorheic Basin: A drainage basin that retains water and allows no outflow, with water loss solely through evaporation or seepage.
Evaporite: A sedimentary rock or mineral formed from the evaporation of water, typically containing salts and minerals.
Deflation: The erosion and removal of loose surface material by wind.
Halophytic Vegetation: Plants that are adapted to grow in soils with high salt concentrations.