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/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 location?Occur in terrestrial basins, varying greatly in size, depth, and geological origin
2. What is the formation mechanisms?Glacial scouring, tectonic rifting, volcanic craters, fluvial processes, and anthropogenic dam construction
3. How do lakes form?Lakes can form when glaciers carve out basins, when tectonic plates pull apart to make rift lakes, or when volcanoes create calderas. Rivers can also make lakes by changing their paths.
4. Why are some lakes salty?Some lakes have no outlet, so water can only leave by evaporation. This leaves minerals behind, making the lake salty or even very salty.

Limnology: The scientific study of inland waters, including lakes, rivers, and wetlands.
Eutrophication: The process by which a body of water becomes overly enriched with minerals and nutrients, leading to excessive plant growth.
Endorheic Basin: A drainage basin that retains water and allows no outflow to other external bodies of water, such as rivers or oceans.
Tectonic Lake: A lake formed in a basin created by tectonic activity, such as faulting or rifting.