Lake – Definition and types of lake

What is lake?

Any inland body of standing water occupying a depression in the Earth’s surface, generally of appreciable size (larger than a pond) . The water may be fresh or saline. The term includes an expanded part of a river, a reservoir behind a dam, or a lake basin intermittently or formerly covered by water.

What are some common types of lakes?

There are plenty of lakes all over the world. The following lists some of the more common types:
Tarn- Tarn lakes (also often classified as alpine lakes) are usually associated with glacial regions-areas that have been glaciated in the past. These hollows form as the ice scours out the side of a hill, creating what is called a cirque.

Rift valley lake

Rift valley lakes occur in areas where rock is pulling apart. As a narrow wedge of land drops from the movement, a long, narrow lake often forms. The Rift Valley, which cuts through Africa and Asia, contains the largest group of such lakes, including Lake Nyasa.

Crater lake

A lake, usually of fresh water, that has formed in a volcanic crater or caldera by the accumulation of rain and ground water. Crater Lake in Oregon is a good example of such a lake.

Deflation lake

Deflation lakes usually occur in deserts as the wind blows out depressions in the sand. If the hole reaches the local groundwater table, it can create an oasis. Such features dot the Sahara Desert in Africa.

Oxbow lake

Oxbow lakes are created by a curved river meander that was cut off by sediment or other means, creating a bowed-shaped lake. Examples are common along the banks of the Mississippi River, where they are often known as bayous.

Artificial lake

Artificial lakes are those usually formed by the damming of a river. These lakes are usually created to regulate the flow of a seasonal flooding river, and many times offer a constant supply of potable (drinkable) water or generated electricity.