great lakes of the world - an introduction - - an introduction -

GREAT LAKES OF GREAT LAKES OF THE WORLDTHE WORLD

- An Introduction -- An Introduction -

Lakes: What are they?Lakes: What are they?

Lakes are bodies of water Lakes collect in large dips

or depressions in the land These depressions are

called basins Lake basins are

surrounded on all sides by land

The basins collect water from: rainfall, melting snow and glaciers, rivers, streams, brooks, as well as underground springs and groundwater

Lakes: How are they Lakes: How are they formed?formed?

NATURAL DAMS Glaciers and landslides

can block a river’s flow and form a lake behind the natural dam.

ACTIONS OF WAVES Coastline bays may be

dammed off from the sea by the buildup of sand and silt at their mouth – this forms a lake.

Lakes: How are they Lakes: How are they formed?formed?

FAULTS IN THE EARTH’S CRUST

Cracks or faults made by the movement in the earth’s crust (like the Andes Mountains) may be filled with melting ice and snow.

ACTIONS OF GLACIERS Glaciers may scour out

large basins which are then filled with melting ice and snow.

Great Lakes of the Great Lakes of the WorldWorld

Click on a Continent name to learn about the great lakes of that region.

Click here when you have finished reviewing lakes from all the continents.

Great Lakes of EuropeGreat Lakes of Europe

The Caspian Sea Located in Southeastern

Europe and Southwestern Asia

Largest inland body of water in the world

Saltwater lake Area of 143,000 sq miles Mean depth of 550 ft Navigation is frequently

dangerous due to storms

Click here to return to the Continents

Great Lakes of AfricaGreat Lakes of Africa

Lake Victoria Located in East central Africa World’s second largest

freshwater lake Drained by the Nile River Area of 26,830 sq mile


Lake Tanganyika Located in East central Africa World’s second deepest

freshwater lake 4,700 feet Area of 12,700 sq miles Noted for the crocodiles and

hippopotamuses that are found on the shores


Lake Chad Located in central Africa Varies in size according to

rainy and dry season Rainy: 10,000 sq miles Dry: 4000 sq miles

Depth varies between 3ft & 20ft

Steadily decreasing in size due to evaporation and underground seepage.


Great Lakes of North Great Lakes of North AmericaAmerica

Lake Superior Located in East central North

America Largest body of freshwater in

the world Freshwater lake Area of 31,700 sq miles Two-Thirds of the lake is in

the United States


Lake Huron Located in central North

America Second largest of the five

Great Lakes Freshwater lake Area of 23,000 sq miles Maximum depth is 750 ft Heavily used by fishing

vessels


Lake Michigan Located in North central

United States Only Great Lake to be wholly

lying in the United States Freshwater lake Area of 57,800 sq miles Maximum depth of 925 ft Has a complex system of

lighthouses, buoys, weather report and storm signal stations


Great Lakes of South Great Lakes of South AmericaAmerica

Lake Maracaibo Located in Northwestern

Venezuela Largest lake of South

America Area of 5,140 sq miles Major petroleum deposits are

located under and around the lake

Great Lakes of South Great Lakes of South AmericaAmerica

Lake Titicaca Located in East central South

America Highest navigable lake in the

world – 12,500 ft above sea-level in the Andes mountains

Saltwater lake Area of 3,200 sq miles Average depth between 460-

600 ft


Great Lakes of AsiaGreat Lakes of Asia

The Aral Sea Located in Central Asia

(Southwestern Kazakhstan and Northwestern Uzbekistan)

Saltwater lake Area of 12,050 sq miles Mean depth of 52 ft Evaporation & water

diversion have resulted in major environmental problems


GREAT LAKES OF THE WORLDGREAT LAKES OF THE WORLD

What have you learned?What have you learned?

great lakes of the world - an introduction - - an introduction -

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