Geography: what is an endorheic lake?
The tutor examines the definition of endorheic (aka terminal) lake, with a few famous examples.
An endorheic lake is one that does not have an outflow; rather, it’s at the lowest point of its watershed. Such a lake’s water level is limited by evaporation and ground absorption.
The Aral and Caspian Seas, both of the Kazakhstan region (SE Europe→W Asia), are both endorheic lakes. (By area, the Caspian Sea is the world’s largest lake.) The Great Salt Lake of Utah is also endorheic, as is the Dead Sea of the Holy Lands.
Typically, an endorheic lake will be salty. The reason is that its inflow, as with almost any lake, likely contains salt. However, since an endorheic lake has no outflow, the salt cannot depart. Therefore, as the the water evaporates from the lake, the salt accumulates. Of course, in a hot climate, this trend will be emphasized.
I’ll be looking at some specific endorheic lakes in future posts:)
Source:
United Nations Environment Programme
Jack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane, Campbell River, BC.
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