Bodies of Water and Their Characteristics
Water bodies exist naturally in oceans, lakes, reservoirs, etc. Just 2.5% of Earth’s water is fresh. Oceans cover about 70% of the entire earth’s surface. There are five interconnected oceans. A sea is a large area of an ocean partially enclosed by land. A gulf is a large body of water surrounded by land with a narrow entrance.
The world’s largest gulf is the Gulf of Mexico, fed by the Caribbean Sea, and covers 1,507,476 square kilometers. The world’s largest sea, the South China Sea off China’s south coast, covers 2,974,601 square kilometers.
Rivers and Lakes
The two ends of a river are the headwater and the mouth. Headwaters come from mountains, while the mouth empties into a larger body of water. Rivers tend to meander to conserve energy.
The Great Lakes in North America, from west to east, are Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. They represent the physical and cultural heritage of North America.
A lake is a large body of water surrounded by land on all sides. Really huge lakes are often called seas. Various bodies of water are categorized as salt or fresh, small or large. Their features differentiate them. You have seen oceans, streams, ponds, and more—all crucial for life.