Biophysical Characteristics of Lakes

The fact that the word "lake" is applied to such diverse waterbodies as Lake Baikal (1,637 m deep, 31,500 km2 of surface area, and 25 million years old) and Lake Baringo (2.5 m, 108 km2 of surface area, and a few thousand years old) indicates that, in spite of the tremendous diversity of lakes around the world,they share some common characteristics. These characteristics are examined below with the implications for management noted.

Biophysical Characteristics of Lakes

Additional Materials

Biodiversity Loss in a Saline Lake Ecosystem

Aladin, Nick

Cyanobacterial Problems in South American Reservoirs: Historical Background, Current Status and Prospects for Countermeasures

Azevedo, Sandra

Implementing the Ecosystem Approach to Preserve the Ecological Integrity of Urban Lakes

Magadza, Chris

Re-Eutrophication and Pathogenic Contamination of Lake Chivero

Magadza, Chris

The Management of Hoars, Baors, and Beels in Bangladesh

Tapas Ranjan Chakraborty

Homework

Make a list of everything you know about the biological, physical, and chemical aspects of your lake and its basin. Be sure to include lake area, lake volume, basin area, land use, population, and so on.