What is the Difference Between River and Lake?

The main difference between a river and a lake lies in their movement and boundaries:

1. Flow of Water: Rivers are moving bodies of water, constantly traveling downhill and flowing towards an ocean, sea, or another river. In contrast, lakes are stationary and have little or no motion of flow. They can be freshwater, saltwater, or brackish, and may be natural or man-made.
2. Boundaries: Rivers are bordered by their banks and can be found on every continent. Lakes, on the other hand, are enclosed by land and do not connect to another body of water. They can be either natural or artificial.
3. Water Types: While the majority of lakes are freshwater, they can also be saltwater or brackish near sea outlets. Rivers are primarily freshwater, though they may become brackish near their mouths.
4. Formation: Rivers are natural bodies of water, while lakes can be either natural (formed by glaciers or rainwater) or artificial (man-made, such as reservoirs).

In summary, rivers are moving bodies of water with boundaries defined by their banks, while lakes are stationary water bodies enclosed by land. Rivers flow towards a larger body of water, whereas lakes do not empty into any other water body.

Comparative Table: River vs Lake

Here is a table comparing the differences between a river and a lake:

Rivers are large natural streams of water that flow towards the ocean, sea, or another river, while lakes are standing bodies of water that can be either natural or artificial. Rivers are constantly changing, with waters flowing downhill, whereas lakes have a stable water level and little to no flow.