Lotic Water Systems
large, continuously flowing bodies of water that typically originate from multiple tributaries and flow towards an ocean, sea, or lake.
Rivers
lakes
form in landscapes with carbonate-rich substrates, such as limestone or dolomite
Solution Lakes
Located in the Middle East, the lowest lake on Earth, lying at 408 meters (1,340 feet) below sea level.
•Dead Sea:
occurs when particles of soil, sand, and organic matter are transported into a lake and settle at the bottom
sedimentation
A smaller, narrower watercourses that may originate from springs, runoff, or precipitation. They often join together to form rivers and can vary in flow velocity, channel morphology, and habitat diversity.
Streams
smaller than lakes and are typically shallow bodies of water, often found in natural settings such as forests, wetlands, and grasslands, as well as human-made environments like gardens and parks
ponds
formed by the erosive force of the wind.
Lakes of Eolian Origin
is the largest lake by both surface area and volume, covering an area of approximately 370,998 square kilometers.
Caspian Sea:
rapid increases in the population of algae in a lake, often fueled by excessive nutrient inputs, such as nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural runoff, sewage discharge, and fertilizers.
algal blooms
small, shallow streams or brooks that flow through forests, grasslands, or rural areas. They are typically narrower than streams and may have intermittent flow depending on seasonal rainfall patterns.
creeks
Artificial lakes created by damming rivers or streams to store water for various purposes, including irrigation, hydropower generation, and drinking water supply. They can have significant ecological and social impacts on downstream ecosystems and human communities.
Reservoirs
formed by the formation of deltas at the mouths of rivers.
•Fluviatile Lakes:
Situated in Siberia, Russia, the deepest freshwater lake in the world, reaching a maximum depth of 1,637 meters (5,371 feet).
•Lake Baikal:
can also contribute to reduced light penetration and decreased productivity in lakes. These include urbanization, deforestation, agricultural practices, industrial pollution, and the construction of dams and impoundments.
human activities
tiny, narrow streams often found in wooded areas or mountainous terrain. They typically have clear, cool water and provide important habitat for aquatic organisms such as trout and amphibians.
Brooks
areas where the land is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally, creating shallow, slow-moving water bodies such as marshes, swamps, and bogs.
wetlands
formed by wave actions along the shoreline of larger bodies of water, such as oceans or seas.
Shoreline Lakes
the largest freshwater lake by surface area, spanning approximately 82,100 square kilometers.
•Lake Superior:
transitional zones where freshwater rivers meet and mix with saltwater from the ocean. They are characterized by dynamic tidal flows, fluctuating salinity levels, and diverse habitats such as mudflats, salt marshes, and mangrove forests.
Estuaries
shallow coastal or estuarine water bodies separated from the ocean by barrier islands, sandbars, or coral reefs.
Lagoons
Some lakes are formed or modified by the activities of organisms. For example, beavers are known to construct dams across streams or rivers, creating impoundments that flood adjacent areas and form beaver ponds or lakes
•Lake Basins Impounded or Excavated by Organisms: