What is a lake?

Answering this question can be challenging because the actual definition of a lake varies. The basic definition of a lake is that it is a large, inland waterbody with slow-moving water.

Lakes form in diverse ways, range in depth and shape, differ in water chemistry, and interact with the surrounding landscape in different ways. Because of these variations, more specific definitions of lakes will differ depending on where you are in the world.

An individual person’s knowledge of water bodies will also shape how they define and identify lakes. While one person may recognize a lake as an area for recreation, someone else may think about how a lake supports survival, and still another may identify lakes by their spiritual characteristics.

The great variability in lakes means that individual lake ecosystems vary and are unique. At IISD-ELA, we research lakes in the boreal ecozone of Canada. Boreal lakes are known to be cold, deep, and seasonal, and have cold-loving fish, like lake trout.

Click here to learn more about what a lake is.