Lakes

In semi-arid regions high evaporation can reduce water. Exam tip: remember dryness and evaporation together.

Polluted water harms fish and other aquatic organisms. Exam tip: connect water quality with aquatic life.

Activities like boating and visits occur near lakes. Exam tip: connect recreation with human use of lakes.

Coastal lakes are often separated from the sea by sand or barriers. Exam tip: remember the link between coastal lakes and lagoons.

Rainfall can increase the amount of water in lakes. Exam tip: remember the relation between rainfall and water level.

Lakes are important for identifying water bodies on maps. Exam tip: remember locations of major lakes on maps.

Lakes can help in both tourism and water supply. Exam tip: remember the multiple benefits of lakes.

Availability of water near a lake supports plant growth. Exam tip: connect water availability with vegetation.

Plastic waste harms water and aquatic organisms. Exam tip: connect plastic pollution with lake conservation.

Coastal lakes are linked with the coast and sometimes saline or brackish water. Exam tip: use coastal location as an identification clue.

A lake is an inland body of standing or relatively still water surrounded wholly or partly by land. It may form through natural processes such as tectonic movement, glacial action, volcanic activity, or river deposition, though the question only asks for its basic meaning. Option A gives that definition and is therefore correct. A lake is different from a river because river water generally flows along a channel, while a lake stores water in a depression or basin.

The other choices describe unrelated features. A strong sea wave is a moving part of the sea, not an inland water body. A high mountain peak is a landform, and desert sand is loose sediment rather than water. The words “surrounded by land” are the key clue. Although lakes can have inflows and outflows, their defining school-level feature is a body of water collected in a land basin. Hence option A follows directly.

Sambhar Lake is a famous saltwater lake of Rajasthan. For exams also link it with salt production.

Lakes are useful for water storage and tourism. For exams remember their economic and natural importance.

Chilika Lake is located near the Odisha coast. For exams remember it as a lagoon with mixed saline and fresh water.

When a river meander gets cut off an oxbow lake may form. For exams connect it with river plains.

A lagoon is a coastal water body partly separated from the sea. For exams remember Chilika and Pulicat as examples.

Dal Lake is a famous lake associated with Srinagar. For exams also remember it with tourism and houseboats.

Freshwater lakes can help in drinking water and irrigation. For exams remember the difference between freshwater and saltwater lakes.

Wular Lake is counted among the major freshwater lakes of India. For exams remember its location in Jammu and Kashmir.

A lake formed by a dam or human construction is called an artificial lake. For exams connect reservoirs with artificial lakes.