Lakes lie completely on land and are separate from the ocean, although they may be connected with the ocean by rivers. Lakes, like other bodies of water, are part of the water cycle, the processes by which water moves around the Earth.
For a list of the major natural lakes of the world, see below. This article treats lake basins and sedimentation; the physical and chemical properties of lake waters; lake currents, waves, and tides; and the hydrologic balance of lakes. For information on related systems, see river.
Lakes are large water-bodies that are surrounded by land and generally occupy inland basins. Usually, they have standing water unless any river or other outlet serves to feed or drain them. Lakes are usually bigger than ponds, and distinct from lagoons by the fact that lagoons are connected to oceans, while lakes are not.
There are millions of lakes in the world. They are found on every continent and in every kind of environment —in mountains and deserts, on plains, and near seashores. Lakes vary greatly in size. Some measure only a few square meters and are small enough to fit in your backyard. Such small lakes are often referred to as ponds.
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Most lakes contain fresh water, but some, especially those where water cannot escape via a river, can be classified as saline lakes. In fact, some lakes, such as the Great Salt Lake in Utah, are saltier than the oceans. Most lakes support a lot of aquatic life, but not all.