What are some facts about lakes and ponds?


What are some facts about lakes and ponds? There are 117 million lakes on Earth, covering 3.7 percent of the continental land surface. Most lakes are relatively small – 90 million lakes are less than two football fields in size. Most lakes lie low — 85 percent are at elevations less than 1,600 feet (500 meters) above sea level.


What is unique about lakes and ponds?

Lakes are normally much deeper than ponds and have a larger surface area. All the water in a pond is in the photic zone, meaning ponds are shallow enough to allow sunlight to reach the bottom. This causes plants (sometimes too many) to grow at the bottom of ponds as well as on their surface.


What is the biggest lake facts?

The largest lake in the world by a long shot is the Caspian Sea – a name that hints at a past when it was contiguous with the ocean around 11 million years ago. This massive saline lake, which is nearly the same size as Japan, borders five countries: Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Iran.


What is special about ponds?

Features can include sloping 'beaches' and muddy margins, shallow open water, deeper sections, vegetation around the edges and areas with overhanging trees. But even tiny freshwater ponds will attract some wildlife.


What defines a pond?

It may surprise you to know there is no technical difference between lakes and ponds, according to the National Park Service(Opens in a new window). However, a general rule of a thumb is if a body of water is large and deep it's a lake and if it's short and shallow it's a pond.


What is a 5 sentence about a lake?

The lake was placid. The lake glowed like it was radioactive. She touched the water of the lake and groaned. The bottom of the lake glowed with souls.


How do ponds stay full?

The material isn't very permeable, which means it can keep the liquid from passing through it. “Over a long, long time, the bottom of the pond itself evolves and changes,” Wu said. “The materials settle and the little particles, or sediments, fill in the large pores.”


Why are ponds so blue?

It is common to see dyed water in public and recreational establishments, such as golf courses, recreation parks, ornamental ponds and decorative fountains. Aquatic dyes add blue or blue-green color to the water to reduce sunlight penetration.


What are 3 characteristics of a lake?

The 5 Key Features that Define a Lake
  • Lakes are inland depressions filled with water. ...
  • Lakes are standing, slow-moving bodies of water. ...
  • Lakes have vast surface areas. ...
  • Lakes are homes to complex ecosystems. ...
  • Lakes are mostly freshwater, but some can be a little salty.


Are ponds deeper than lakes?

In general, lakes tend to be larger and/or deeper than ponds, but numerous examples exist of “ponds” that are larger and deeper than “lakes.” For example, Echo “Lake” in Conway is 14 acres in surface area with a maximum depth of 11 feet, while Island “Pond” in Derry is nearly 500 acres and 80 feet deep.


What are 3 fun facts about the Great Lakes?

The Great Lakes hold over 5,400 cubic miles of water -- therefore accounting for more than 20% of the world's surface freshwater.
  • Lake Superior contains half of the water in all the Great Lakes. ...
  • Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake that is entirely within U.S. territory.


What are 5 facts about ponds?

A pond is a body of water smaller than a lake. Ponds support wide range of wildlife: ducks, turtles, swans, small fish, and frogs can live in a pond. Usually, in most ponds sunlight can reach to bottom. In some cases ponds do not last all year round.


What do ponds need to survive?

Ponds are most satisfactory when there is a complete and balanced food web in place. Starting at the top this means that planktonic algae are present in sufficient quantity to feed some zooplankton. The zooplankton in turn provides food for the smallest fish and aquatic insects.


What are some basic facts about lakes?

There are 117 million lakes on Earth, covering 3.7 percent of the continental land surface. Most lakes are relatively small – 90 million lakes are less than two football fields in size. Most lakes lie low — 85 percent are at elevations less than 1,600 feet (500 meters) above sea level.