CHICAGO – Many of us think of lakes as safer for swimming and boating versus the ocean with its various waves and currents. However, the Great Lakes are so big that wind churns up waves and rip currents that can compete with those found in oceans.
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Lake Drownings are Especially CommonIt is easier to drown in freshwater than in saltwater. Lake waters are dark and murky – it harder to spot someone who is drowning. Ice on lakes can be thinner than expected, causing someone to fall through and drown.
Stay out of the water ifCloudy water can be a warning that there are more germs in the water than normal. Discolored or smelly water could mean there is a harmful algal bloom (HAB) in the water.
Pollutants from residential, agricultural, and industrial areas reduce water quality. Land development decreases the amount of wildlife habitat. Fish populations have been declining in recent years as a result of these threats and increased fishing pressure.
Lakes can be affected by pollution from various sources such as agricultural runoff, urban development, and recreational activities. High levels of bacteria, harmful algae blooms, and pollutants in the water can pose health risks to swimmers.
The Dead Sea, also called the Salt Sea, is a salt lake bordering Jordan to the east, and Israel to the west. Its surface and shores are 427 metres below sea level, Earth's lowest elevation on land. The Dead Sea is 306 m deep, the deepest hypersaline lake in the world.
Lake Baikal, in Siberia, holds the distinction of being both the deepest lake in the world and the largest freshwater lake, holding more than 20% of the unfrozen fresh water on the surface of Earth. It is also the oldest freshwater lake in the world, with an estimated age of 20 million to 25 million years.