![[logo] US EPA](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081106174216im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs
More about lakes and ponds:
Lakes are inland bodies of freshwater ranging in size
from less than one acre to several thousands of acres. Simply stated,
lakes are the bodies of water that fill depressions in the earth's surface.
Lakes may be further described by their origin and classified
by trophic status according to their characteristics. Reservoirs are lakes,
often man-made, that control water flow for hydroelectric power generation,
flood control, and/or municipal water supplies. Follow the links on this
page to learn more about lakes, ponds, and reservoirs or get an overview
of these "lentic" environments. Don't forget to visit EPA's
Clean Lakes program Web site
and read about EPA's National
Lake Survey!. Also visit the Missouri
Botanical Garden Web site on lakes and ponds. 
What's The Difference Between A Lake And A Pond?
The main difference between lakes and ponds is size, but ponds are also usually artifically created and are not natural. Lakes are deeper and larger bodies of water that can influence local climate if large enough. Ponds are much smaller than lakes and usually have the same temperature from top to bottom, whereas lakes can have dramatically different temperatures from the surface to the bottom waters. Also, rather than affecting local climate, ponds are usually greatly affected by local conditions.
| Lakes | Ponds |
|---|---|
| Larger | Smaller |
| Deeper | Shallower |
| May have dramatically different temperatures from the surface to the bottom waters |
Top and bottom waters generally have the same temperature |
| Lakes are natural | Ponds are usually man-made |
| Affect local climate if large enough | Tend to be greatly affected by local climate. |
Formore information:
- US Geological Survey on Lakes and Reservoirs
- Visit the Lakes
and Ponds Web site by Twin Groves Junior High School, Buffalo Grove,
Illinois
- See Understanding
Lake Ecology by the University of Minnesota
- Lakes and
Ponds by the Missouri Botanical Garden - a must see!
- Freshwater Terms by USEPA Region 2
- Pond
Ecology by the Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Frequently
Asked Questions about Lakes
- U.S. Geological Survey - about lakes
- Great American Secchi Disk Dip-In
by Kent State University