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What is a lake?

An illustration of a lake surrounded by trees and mountains

A lake is an area filled with water that is surrounded by land.

An illustration of a lake surrounded by trees and mountains

Watch: Learn about the biggest lake in the UK

Explore the different lakes of the UK.

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Lakes in the UK

In the UK, there are around 40,000 lakes. Every lake is different and varies in depth and size.

Lakes can have other names. They are known as lochs in Scotland and loughs in Northern Ireland.

A map of the UK showing different lakes
Figure caption,
A map of the UK showing different lakes
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Types of lakes

Lakes can be formed in two ways.

Natural lakes

Lakes are formed naturally when there are massive cracks in the Earth's . This causes the crust to sink down into the surface and form a .

During the , cracks formed as the glaciers carved and shaped the Earth's surface as they moved along. When the ice eventually melted and turned into water, it filled the basins which then created a lake.

One example of a natural lake is Lough Neagh, in Northern Ireland. This is the biggest lake in the UK and contains over 3 and half trillion litres of water.

Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland
Image caption,
Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland

Man-made lakes

Lakes can also be made by humans.

Ladybower Reservoir is an example of this. A reservoir is a man-made lake built by engineers to help provide water for the community.

The water that fills Ladybower Reservoir comes from the River Derwent. Surrounding the reservoir is a that traps the water to make sure it is constantly topped up for the villagers who need it.

Ladybower reservoir
Image caption,
Ladybower reservoir in the Peak District
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Purpose of lakes

Lakes are important for humans. They provide storage for water, which can be filtered and used for drinking and washing.It is dangerous to swim in lakes and reservoirs. They tend to be much colder and can have a strong current, which makes it more difficult to swim safely.

A walker with a rucksack and walking poles

They are good for activities such as:

  • fishing
  • birdwatching
  • walking or cycling beside the water
A walker with a rucksack and walking poles

Lakes can also be a habitat for plants and animals. The following can be found in a freshwater habitat:

newt
  • dragonflies
  • snails
  • otters
  • frogs
  • newts
  • fish
newt
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Activities

Quiz: Who's down at the lake?

Quiz: Lakes - true or false

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