What are the characteristics of lakes?

lake, Relatively large body of slow-moving or standing water that occupies an inland basin. Lakes are most abundant in high northern latitudes and in mountain regions, particularly those that were covered by glaciers in recent geologic times.



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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.

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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.

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Based upon their thermal stratification, lakes are classified as either holomictic, with a uniform temperature and density from top to bottom at a given time of year, or meromictic, with layers of water of different temperature and density that do not intermix.

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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.

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Lakes are classified based on productivity, or how much photosynthesis is occurring in the water.
  • Oligotrophic lakes have low levels of productivity, these are often clearer water.
  • Mesotrophic lakes have a middle level of productivity. ...
  • Eutrophic lakes are high in productivity, so high they can be green in color.


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Summary. English: The three primary zones of a lake are the littoral, open-water (also called the photic or limnetic), and deep-water (also called the aphotic or profundal) zones. If the above link no longer works, visit http://www.ck12.org and search for CK-12 Earth Science.

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Exorheic, or open lakes drain into a river, or other body of water that ultimately drains into the ocean. Endorheic basins fall into the category of endorheic or closed lakes, wherein waters do not drain into the ocean, but are reduced by evaporation, and/or drain into the ground.

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Most lakes are named after a feature. A sandy lake is often named Sandy Lake. A lake with a lot of fish is often named Fish Lake. A lot of lakes are repeats; there are 20 Mud Lakes in Minnesota.

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