Lake OriginsLake Origins

Kenneth WilliamsKenneth WilliamsFisheries Extension Specialist Fisheries Extension Specialist Langston University Aquaculture Langston University Aquaculture Extension ProgramExtension Program

The nature of lakesThe nature of lakes

Lakes are ephemeralLakes are ephemeralAs soon as formed they begin to fill in.As soon as formed they begin to fill in.Many lakes go dry seasonallyMany lakes go dry seasonallyExtremely large or deep lakes may last for Extremely large or deep lakes may last for millions of years.millions of years.Some by their nature last a lot longer than Some by their nature last a lot longer than others.others.

Glacial lakesGlacial lakes

At extent of At extent of glaciationglaciation, 31.5% of earth , 31.5% of earth covered. Now less than 10% coverage.covered. Now less than 10% coverage.Pools of water on surface of glaciersPools of water on surface of glaciersSubSub--surface glacial lakessurface glacial lakesStreams dammed by tongues of ice from Streams dammed by tongues of ice from advancing glaciers.advancing glaciers.

Glacial lakesGlacial lakes

SubSub--surface glacial lakessurface glacial lakes

Lakes formed near glaciersLakes formed near glaciers

Lakes formed in frostLakes formed in frost--thaw basins near thaw basins near glaciers in cold areas. Ex. Alaska Arctic glaciers in cold areas. Ex. Alaska Arctic Coastal Plain.Coastal Plain.10001000’’s of elliptical lakes all oriented on a s of elliptical lakes all oriented on a NWNW--SE axis. Long axis of lakes are at SE axis. Long axis of lakes are at right angles to modern summer winds.right angles to modern summer winds.Basins are above the permafrost. Basins are above the permafrost. Caused when vegetation removed from an Caused when vegetation removed from an area and subsequent heating.area and subsequent heating.

Alaska Arctic Coastal Plain lakesAlaska Arctic Coastal Plain lakes

Alaska Arctic Coastal Plain lakesAlaska Arctic Coastal Plain lakes

PingoPingo

A A pingopingo is formed when water under is formed when water under pressure rises through gaps in the pressure rises through gaps in the permafrost, freezes and forms an ice permafrost, freezes and forms an ice dome that is covered with soil and dome that is covered with soil and vegetation. vegetation. During uplift the cap ruptures and the During uplift the cap ruptures and the exposed ice melts leaving a crater that exposed ice melts leaving a crater that may contain water.may contain water.

PingosPingos

Glacial lake terminologyGlacial lake terminology

OutwashOutwash –– material carried from or material carried from or beyond the ice as a glacier retreats by beyond the ice as a glacier retreats by melting.melting.DriftDrift –– any accumulation of material due to any accumulation of material due to glacial origin. Ex. Boulders, sand, rock etc.glacial origin. Ex. Boulders, sand, rock etc.MoraineMoraine –– drift that is deposited directly by drift that is deposited directly by the glacier. Usually in the form of a dike.the glacier. Usually in the form of a dike.

MorainesMoraines

Lakes in ground moraineLakes in ground moraine

Kettle or pit lakes Kettle or pit lakes –– depressions left as the depressions left as the glacier retreats. Depressions may be filled glacier retreats. Depressions may be filled with ice blocks that take centuries to melt.with ice blocks that take centuries to melt.Ex. North Dakota pot hole lakes.Ex. North Dakota pot hole lakes.

Kettle or pit lakesKettle or pit lakes

North Dakota pot hole lakesNorth Dakota pot hole lakes

Canadian kettle lakes

Lakes formed by Lakes formed by morainicmorainicimpoundmentimpoundment

Lakes formed by a terminal moraine (like a Lakes formed by a terminal moraine (like a dike) marking furthest extent of the glacier.dike) marking furthest extent of the glacier.Also Also corrasioncorrasion or mechanical erosion is or mechanical erosion is involved. Weight of ice and abrasive involved. Weight of ice and abrasive material scour out a material scour out a ““VV”” or or ““UU”” shaped shaped depression where the glacier passed over.depression where the glacier passed over.Ex. Fremont lake in Wyoming.Ex. Fremont lake in Wyoming.

Fremont lake, WyomingFremont lake, Wyoming

Lakes formed by Lakes formed by morainicmorainicimpoundmentimpoundment

Glacier moving Glacier moving down a valley down a valley blocks and dams blocks and dams a tributary stream a tributary stream with with morainicmorainicmaterial.material.

Lakes formed by Lakes formed by morainicmorainic

impoundmentimpoundment

Lakes formed by Lakes formed by morainicmorainicimpoundmentimpoundment

Moraines can form at both ends of a Moraines can form at both ends of a glacial lake. Ex. New York finger lakes. glacial lake. Ex. New York finger lakes. They were formed when river valleys were They were formed when river valleys were scoured out below sea level. Caused by 2 scoured out below sea level. Caused by 2 periods of periods of glaciationglaciation. .

Seneca Lake, New York

Aerial views of the finger Aerial views of the finger lakeslakes

Glacial scour lakeGlacial scour lake

Built by Built by corrasioncorrasion under a large mass of under a large mass of ice.ice.FjordsFjordsLoch NessLoch NessContinental ice sheetsContinental ice sheets–– Great lakesGreat lakes–– Great Slave Lake in CanadaGreat Slave Lake in Canada

Glacial scour lakesGlacial scour lakes

FjordsFjords

Glacial scour lakesGlacial scour lakesLoch NessLoch Ness

Glacial scour lakesGlacial scour lakes

Great Slave Lake, CanadaGreat Slave Lake, Canada

Cirque lakesCirque lakes

Mountain lakes characterized by a sheer Mountain lakes characterized by a sheer cliff with a bowl shaped lake at is base. cliff with a bowl shaped lake at is base. Also called a tarn.Also called a tarn.Form at the head of a glacier in a crevasse Form at the head of a glacier in a crevasse between rock head wall and ice.between rock head wall and ice.Water thaws and refreezes at the bottom Water thaws and refreezes at the bottom of the of the cravassecravasse busting rock.busting rock.Circular scouring by glacier movement Circular scouring by glacier movement creates bowl.creates bowl.

Cirque lakesCirque lakes

Pierce Lake, British ColumbiaPierce Lake, British Columbia

Tectonic lakesTectonic lakes

Lakes formed by earth movement.Lakes formed by earth movement.

GrabenGraben lakeslakes

Formed by a depressed, elongated block Formed by a depressed, elongated block of the earthof the earth’’s crust between faults.s crust between faults.Usually have a flat bottom but may be Usually have a flat bottom but may be tilted.tilted.Examples: of flat bottomed Examples: of flat bottomed GrabensGrabens–– Lake Tahoe NevadaLake Tahoe Nevada–– Lake Baikal in Siberia 1.6 km deep (deepest Lake Baikal in Siberia 1.6 km deep (deepest

lake)lake)–– Lake Tanganyika, East Africa (2Lake Tanganyika, East Africa (2ndnd deepest)deepest)

GrabenGraben lakeslakes

GrabenGraben LakesLakes

Lake Tahoe, NevadaLake Tahoe, Nevada

GrabenGraben LakesLakes

Lake Baikal in SiberiaLake Baikal in Siberia

GrabenGraben LakesLakesLake Baikal in SiberiaLake Baikal in Siberia

GrabenGraben LakesLakes

Lake Baikal, Siberia from spaceLake Baikal, Siberia from space

GrabenGraben LakesLakes

Lake Tanganyika, Lake Tanganyika, East AfricaEast Africa

GrabenGraben LakesLakesLake Tanganyika, East AfricaLake Tanganyika, East Africa

EpeirogenisisEpeirogenisis

The rise of large The rise of large crustalcrustal blocks to form blocks to form enormous basins.enormous basins.Usually takes a long geologic period of Usually takes a long geologic period of time to form.time to form.Example: Lake Example: Lake AtitlanAtitlan in the Andes, in the Andes, Caspian Sea in Russia and Lake Caspian Sea in Russia and Lake Okeechobee, Florida.Okeechobee, Florida.

EpeirogenisisEpeirogenisisLake Lake AtitlanAtitlan in the Andesin the Andes

EpeirogenisisEpeirogenisisCaspian Sea in RussiaCaspian Sea in Russia

EpeirogenisisEpeirogenisis

Caspian Sea shore in IranCaspian Sea shore in Iran

Earthquake lakesEarthquake lakes

Can be formed overnight by Can be formed overnight by earthqukesearthqukes..Example: Example: ReelfootReelfoot Lake in Kentucky, Lake in Kentucky, Formed during the New Madrid Formed during the New Madrid earthquake in 1811 from Mississippi River earthquake in 1811 from Mississippi River water.water.

Earthquake lakesEarthquake lakes

ReelfootReelfoot Lake,KentuckyLake,Kentucky

Landslide lakesLandslide lakes

Formed when a rock slide or mud flow Formed when a rock slide or mud flow dams a valley stream.dams a valley stream.Example: Mountain Lake, Virginia.Example: Mountain Lake, Virginia.

Lakes formed by volcanic activityLakes formed by volcanic activity

Usually formed from depressions left by Usually formed from depressions left by volcanic craters or other volcanic activity.volcanic craters or other volcanic activity.Tama Lakes, New ZealandTama Lakes, New Zealand

Crater lakesCrater lakes

Deepest lake in the U.S. is Crater Lake, Deepest lake in the U.S. is Crater Lake, Oregon. Formed in a volcanic caldera or Oregon. Formed in a volcanic caldera or collapsed volcanic crater. collapsed volcanic crater. Other lakes formed from underground Other lakes formed from underground volcanic explosions that leave little cinder volcanic explosions that leave little cinder but or lava material but create a low rim.but or lava material but create a low rim.These lakes are circular.These lakes are circular.Example: Lac Example: Lac dd’’IssarlesIssarles, France., France.

Crater lakesCrater lakes

Crater Lake, OregonCrater Lake, Oregon

Crater lakesCrater lakes

Lac Lac dd’’IssarlesIssarles, France, France

Coulee lakesCoulee lakes

Lakes formed by lava impoundment. Lakes formed by lava impoundment. Molten lave flows across valley floors to Molten lave flows across valley floors to dam streams.dam streams.Example: Lake Example: Lake KivuKivu, Rwanda., Rwanda.

Solution lakesSolution lakes

Basins created by dissolution and removal of Basins created by dissolution and removal of materials such as calcium and sometimes materials such as calcium and sometimes magnesium carbonates.magnesium carbonates.Typically in Typically in karstkarst formations.formations.Sinkholes that have clogged with debris and Sinkholes that have clogged with debris and filled with water.filled with water.They may drain suddenly.They may drain suddenly.Usually circular, may contain very large springs Usually circular, may contain very large springs as in Arkansas, Missouri and Florida.as in Arkansas, Missouri and Florida.

Solution lakesSolution lakes

Sinkhole in FloridaSinkhole in Florida

Solution lakesSolution lakes

Florida sinkhole lakesFlorida sinkhole lakes

Lakes in salt collapse basinsLakes in salt collapse basins

Salt Salt karstkarst lakes are formed by dissolution lakes are formed by dissolution of sodium chloride (of sodium chloride (NaClNaCl) or calcium ) or calcium sulfate (Ca SOsulfate (Ca SO44).).Typically formed when a lens of salt is Typically formed when a lens of salt is overlain by thin limestone. Water enters overlain by thin limestone. Water enters the salt lens and dissolves it. Rock the salt lens and dissolves it. Rock collapses and forms basin.collapses and forms basin.Ex. Bottomless lakes of New Mexico.Ex. Bottomless lakes of New Mexico.

Lakes in salt collapse basinsLakes in salt collapse basins

Bottomless lake, New MexicoBottomless lake, New Mexico

Lakes of Lakes of aeolianaeolian (wind) origin(wind) origin

Formed in dry, windy regions.Formed in dry, windy regions.May form by drifting sand damming a May form by drifting sand damming a stream.stream.Wind scooping out depressions in sand or Wind scooping out depressions in sand or other other erodableerodable material. Depressions in material. Depressions in dunes may go to water table.dunes may go to water table.Animals may help form these lakes. Animals may help form these lakes. (buffalo wallows).(buffalo wallows).

Lakes of Lakes of aeolianaeolian (wind) origin(wind) origin

Buffalo wallowsBuffalo wallows

Lakes of Lakes of aeolianaeolian (wind) origin(wind) origin

Most of these lakes dry up periodically.Most of these lakes dry up periodically.When dry, the wind blows more soil out of When dry, the wind blows more soil out of the basin, making the lake deeper.the basin, making the lake deeper.Examples: Lake district in the Texas Examples: Lake district in the Texas panhandle and eastern New Mexico. Sand panhandle and eastern New Mexico. Sand hills of Nebraska, and Moses Lake in hills of Nebraska, and Moses Lake in Washington.Washington.

Lakes of Lakes of aeolianaeolian (wind) origin(wind) origin

Sand hill lakes in NebraskaSand hill lakes in Nebraska

FluviatileFluviatile lakeslakes

A stream entering a river may deposit A stream entering a river may deposit enough material to form a partial dam enough material to form a partial dam across the main river. This action slows across the main river. This action slows water movement enough to form a lake.water movement enough to form a lake.Ex. Lake Pepin on the Mississippi River, Ex. Lake Pepin on the Mississippi River, formed where the Chippewa river enters formed where the Chippewa river enters the Mississippi.the Mississippi.

FluviatileFluviatile lakeslakes

Lake PepinLake Pepin

Mississippi River

Chippewa RiverChippewa River

FluviatileFluviatile lakeslakes

Lake PepinLake Pepin

Flood plain lakesFlood plain lakes

Formed in the river flood plainFormed in the river flood plainLevee lakesLevee lakes –– formed parallel to a river by formed parallel to a river by deposited sediments.deposited sediments.Oxbow lakesOxbow lakes –– Formed from isolated Formed from isolated loops of a meandering stream. The basins loops of a meandering stream. The basins are crescent shaped and usually deeper are crescent shaped and usually deeper than levee lakes.than levee lakes.

Levee LakeLevee Lake

Kauai, Hawaii Kauai, Hawaii

Levee lakeLevee lake

Angola Lake, LouisianaAngola Lake, Louisiana

Oxbow lake formationOxbow lake formation

Oxbow lakesOxbow lakes

Rio Madre de Rio Madre de DiosDios , Bolivia, Bolivia

EvorsionEvorsion (pothole) lakes(pothole) lakes

Often formed under water falls. Made by Often formed under water falls. Made by torrential flows of water swirling stones in torrential flows of water swirling stones in a circular fashion, cutting a vertical hole in a circular fashion, cutting a vertical hole in the stream bed.the stream bed.Also called plunge basin lakes when Also called plunge basin lakes when formed under water falls.formed under water falls.Ex. Fayetteville Green Lake, New York.Ex. Fayetteville Green Lake, New York.

EvorsionEvorsion (pothole) lakes(pothole) lakesFayetteville Green Lake, New YorkFayetteville Green Lake, New York

EvorsionEvorsion (pothole) lakes(pothole) lakes

Pothole Lake and Owens Valley, CAPothole Lake and Owens Valley, CA

Plunge poolPlunge pool

Shoreline lakesShoreline lakes

Formed when sand spits cut off a portion Formed when sand spits cut off a portion of a lake from the main body or when of a lake from the main body or when ocean bays are cut off from the sea by ocean bays are cut off from the sea by sand dunes.sand dunes.Beach pools are common examples. Beach pools are common examples.

Lakes impounded by organismsLakes impounded by organisms

Dams of Sphagnum moss and other bog Dams of Sphagnum moss and other bog plants have created some lakes in Nova plants have created some lakes in Nova Scotia.Scotia.Beaver damsBeaver damsAlligator pools.Alligator pools.Human built impoundments.Human built impoundments.

Lakes impounded by organismsLakes impounded by organisms

Beaver damsBeaver dams

Lakes impounded by organismsLakes impounded by organisms

Alligator poolAlligator pool

Lakes impounded by organismsLakes impounded by organisms

Human built impoundmentsHuman built impoundments

Lakes formed by extraterrestrial Lakes formed by extraterrestrial objectsobjects

Instantaneous formation by meteorite Instantaneous formation by meteorite impact and explosion. 31impact and explosion. 31--40 lakes are 40 lakes are suspected of being formed in this manner.suspected of being formed in this manner.Ex. New Quebec Crater Lake.Ex. New Quebec Crater Lake.

Lakes formed by extraterrestrial Lakes formed by extraterrestrial objectsobjects

PingualuitPingualuit Crater Lake, Canada Crater Lake, Canada

Relict lakesRelict lakes

Lakes still existing in part from enormous Lakes still existing in part from enormous lakes formed about 12,000 yrs. Ago.lakes formed about 12,000 yrs. Ago.Examples: Glacial lake Examples: Glacial lake AgassizAgassiz covered covered part of Saskatchewan, western Ontario, part of Saskatchewan, western Ontario, North Dakota and northwestern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. What is left are Lake Minnesota. What is left are Lake Winnipeg, Lake Manitoba, Lake Winnipeg, Lake Manitoba, Lake NipigonNipigonand Lakeand Lake--ofof--thethe--Woods.Woods.

Relict lakesRelict lakes

Lake WinnipegLake Winnipeg

Lake ManitobaLake Manitoba

Lake Lake NipigonNipigon

LakeLake--ofof--thethe--WoodsWoods

Relict lakesRelict lakes

Pluvial lakes formed in basins South of the Pluvial lakes formed in basins South of the ice sheets. 120 of these lakes in the great ice sheets. 120 of these lakes in the great basin area of North America.basin area of North America.Lake Bonneville, its remnant is the Great Lake Bonneville, its remnant is the Great Salt Lake in Utah.Salt Lake in Utah.Lake Lake LahontanLahontan, its remnant is Pyramid , its remnant is Pyramid Lake, Nevada.Lake, Nevada.

Lakes Lakes LohontanLohontan

and and BonnevilleBonneville

Great Salt Lake in UtahGreat Salt Lake in UtahA relict lake of Lake Bonneville, a much A relict lake of Lake Bonneville, a much larger lake that covered most of Utah (and larger lake that covered most of Utah (and parts of Idaho and Nevada) during the parts of Idaho and Nevada) during the Pleistocene era Pleistocene era

Pyramid lake, NevadaPyramid lake, Nevada

Relict lakesRelict lakes

Playa Playa –– The flat, barren, lower region of The flat, barren, lower region of arid basins. They occasionally hold water. arid basins. They occasionally hold water. Their flooding creates a playa lake.Their flooding creates a playa lake.Many are inland desert basins containing Many are inland desert basins containing layers of salt.layers of salt.Ex: Ex: SearlesSearles Lake, California.Lake, California.

SearlesSearles Lake, CaliforniaLake, California

Playas on the Great PlainsPlayas on the Great Plains

The EndThe End