lake

A lake is a body of water that is land-locked. This means that it has no physical connection with the sea.

Its waters are fed by rivers and streams that flow from surrounding high ground into the lake.

Some lakes arise from natural disasters, like volcanic eruptions or earthquakes. The landscape changes dramatically and gives rise to new lowland areas where water can collect in vast amounts and form a lake or a system of lakes.

Here is a collection of photographs of some of the most beautiful lakes in the world.

Lakes can also be man-made. For instance, in Australia, Lake Burley-Griffin in Canberra, provides a serene retreat for locals who live in the area.

pond

Continuing the theme 'body of water', 'pond' relates to still water and is most likely to be man-made.

In public places like parks, a pond could be deliberately created in consistently boggy areas of public land.

In these circumstances, fish can be introduced to populate the pond. As a result, water birds are attracted to the area and become regular visitors or even residents of the pond and its surrounds.

Consider the many public parks and gardens in and around Melbourne and you are likely to have a memory that relates to visiting the ponds in one of these restful places.

billabong

This indigenous Australian word refers to a body of water that has particular qualities attached to it.

A billabong is often a backwater channel connected with a stream or river. It rises and falls according to the water's flow. It often is the dead end of the river system.

The word arises in an Aboriginal language and was taken into English in the 19th Century. 'Billa' means river and 'bong' means dead.

pool

This is one of many words that are associated with 'a body of water'.

In this case, 'pool' is likely to be small, holding fresh water (as opposed to salt water or stagnant water) and possibly temporary as is the case where 'water collects in pools after rain'.

In some instances it is shallow, but can be deep, particularly in natural environments where water gathers between rocks.

Be aware that specific types of pools will be qualified. For example, swimming pool, rock pool, diving pool. In these examples each type of pool gains unique attributes and expands our understanding of them.

If you are stretching your use of English, test your creativity and clarity by writing a 4-sentence piece about any of the various pools mentioned in this post.

lagoon

There are many words that relate to 'body of water' and this is one of them.

A lagoon is a body of water that has been cut off from the open sea by a coral reefs or sand dunes.

The word also serves to describe a small body of water that is adjacent to or adjoining a larger body of water.

Its origin lies in 17th Century Italian laguna, from the Latin lacuna which translates as 'pool'.