Lake Maracaibo

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/lake-maracaibo

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. How big is Lake Maracaibo?13,512 km² (5,217 sq mi)
2. What is the location?Northwestern Venezuela, situated between the states of Zulia, Trujillo, and Mérida
3. What is the hydrological classification?Estuary/semi-enclosed bay connected to the Gulf of Venezuela
4. What is Lake Maracaibo and why is it special?Lake Maracaibo is a huge watery place in northwestern Venezuela. It looks like a lake but is actually an estuary that connects to the Gulf of Venezuela. It is the largest lake in South America if you count it as a lake.
5. Why does Lake Maracaibo have so much lightning?The Catatumbo lightning happens over the mouth of the Catatumbo River near the lake. It can light up the sky for up to 10 hours each night, about 28 flashes every minute, and it happens on about 297 nights a year.

Estuary: A transitional zone where freshwater rivers meet saltwater seas, characterized by brackish water and tidal influences.
Brackish Water: Water with a salinity level between that of freshwater and seawater, typically found in estuaries and coastal lagoons.
Eutrophication: The over-enrichment of a water body with nutrients, leading to excessive algal growth, oxygen depletion, and degradation of water quality.
Hydrocarbons: Organic compounds consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms, forming the basis of fossil fuels like oil and natural gas.