Water science news, explainers, and statistics covering freshwater, hydrology, lakes, rivers, groundwater, ice, and Earth’s connected water systems.
A river habitat combines flowing water with channel features and connected land. Together they supply organisms with food and oxygen as well as shelter for reproduction. Habitat extends beyond the wetted channel because conditions for aquatic life also respond to the streambed and banks. The riparian corridor connects those features to the floodplain, while tributaries…
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Lake Superior does not freeze completely in a typical winter. Ice forms first in shallow bays and along protected shores, while deep open water often remains exposed. Coverage varies greatly between winters. Neither one low-ice season nor one high-ice season represents the lake’s permanent winter state. Open water continues exchanging heat and moisture with cold…
Lake Malawi stretches along the borders of Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania in Africa’s western Rift Valley. It covers about 30,800 square kilometers, equivalent to roughly 11,900 square miles. From north to south, the lake extends approximately 560 kilometers. Most of the shoreline and water lie beside Malawi, where the lake occupies a large share of…
Namakan Lake covers 25,130 acres along the Minnesota-Ontario border. The National Park Service lists a length of 16 miles and a maximum width of 7 miles. Its deepest point reaches 150 feet. Forested islands divide the branching channels that form part of the interconnected waters of Voyageurs National Park. The international boundary crosses the lake,…
