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A view ofLake Teletskoye, the largest lake in the Altai Mountains and the Altai Republic, Russia_Goai%25C3%25AFngarypster_Puollen_(d.j.b.)_20.jpg)
A view of Goëngarijpsterpoelen, one of theFrisian Lakes
Thunder Lake in Northern Alberta
A view of the six lowest (and largest) lakes of theSeven Rila Lakes
A view ofWest Lake in Hangzhou, China
Alake is often a naturally occurring, relatively large and fixedbody of water on or near the Earth's surface. It is localized in abasin or interconnected basins surrounded bydry land. Lakes lie completely on land and are separate from theocean, although they may be connected with the ocean byrivers. Lakes, as with other bodies ofwater, are part of thewater cycle, the processes by which water moves around the Earth. Most lakes arefresh water and account for almost all the world's surface freshwater, but some aresalt lakes withsalinities even higher than that ofseawater. Lakes vary significantly in surface area and volume of water.
Lakes are typically larger and deeper thanponds, which are also water-filled basins on land, although there are no official definitions or scientific criteria distinguishing the two. Lakes are also distinct fromlagoons, which are generally shallowtidal pools dammed bysandbars or other material atcoastal regions of oceans or large lakes. Most lakes are fed bysprings, and both fed and drained bycreeks andrivers, but some lakes areendorheic without any outflow, whilevolcanic lakes are filled directly byprecipitationrunoffs and do not have any inflow streams.
Natural lakes are generally found inmountainous areas (i.e.alpine lakes),dormantvolcanic craters,rift zones and areas with ongoingglaciation. Other lakes are found indepressed landforms or along the courses of mature rivers, where a river channel has widened over a basin formed by erodedfloodplains andwetlands. Some lakes are found in cavernsunderground. Some parts of the world have many lakes formed by the chaotic drainage patterns left over from thelast ice age. All lakes are temporary overlong periods of time, as they will slowly fill in with sediments or spill out of the basin containing them. (Full article...)
TheLoch Ness Monster (Scottish Gaelic:Uilebheist Loch Nis), known affectionately asNessie, is a mythical creature inScottish folklore that is said to inhabitLoch Ness in theScottish Highlands. It is often described as large, long-necked, and with one or more humps protruding from the water. Popular interest and belief in the creature has varied since it was brought to worldwide attention in 1933. Evidence of its existence is anecdotal, with a number of disputed photographs andsonar readings.
The scientific community explains alleged sightings of the Loch Ness Monster ashoaxes,wishful thinking, and the misidentification of mundane objects. Thepseudoscience andsubculture ofcryptozoology has placed particular emphasis on the creature. (Full article...)
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Do you have a question about lakes that you can't find the answer to? Consider asking it at theWikipedia reference desk.
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Lakes on theAltiplano | |
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| Low-altitude lakes | |
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Lakes in Japan | |
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| Hokkaido region | |
| Tōhoku region | |
| Kantō region | |
| Chūbu region | |
| Kansai region | |
| San'in region | |
| Kyūshū region | |
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"The Largest Lake in the Philippines" | |||||||
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Lakes in Mongolia | |
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Lakes ofNew Mexico | |
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Lakes and other natural bodies of water inNew South Wales, Australia | |
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Lakes of Switzerland | ||
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The followingWikimedia Foundation sister projects provide more on this subject:
