Apr 11
27

Is there a difference between a pond and a lake?

4 Comments

Lake or pond, what’s the difference?

In a discussion among family members we agreed to disagree that the difference between a pond and a lake is size.  We’ve seen smaller than and similarly larger than ponds.  Is there another criteria for labeling them?

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Posted in Ponds by Pond Manager 4 Comments

4 Responses to "Is there a difference between a pond and a lake?"

  • Alex Challand says:
    April 26, 2011 at 3:57 pm
    Reply

    They are’nt spelled the same.

  • allycat says:
    April 26, 2011 at 3:57 pm
    Reply

    Lakes are a constant movement of water, usually fed by rivers coming down hills,some have exit to the sea. Ponds are stagnant no entrance no exit.

  • Kowalski says:
    April 26, 2011 at 3:57 pm
    Reply

    Lakes usually have docks for sailboats, fishing boats and leisure boats.

    Nobody goes boating on a pond!

  • Riya says:
    April 26, 2011 at 3:57 pm
    Reply

    Well, there is no difference in size, as much as there is a difference in biota. A pond is characterized as a body of water, which has a photic zone through its entire length/width. In other words, plants could potentially grow all across its surface or below the surface. A lake however is characterized by having an aphotic zone, where the sun cannot penetrate, therefore plants cannot grow all over its surface or below it. This aphotic zone is usually determined by depth. Ponds are typically shallow to allow light to pass down deep enough for plants to survive. There is no standard size for lakes, ponds, bogs, etc. They are usually determined by their composition, both biotic and abiotic. So everyone that said that a lake is bigger is technically wrong, since there are some ponds that can exceed the size of small lakes, but due to the absolute photic zone, it is technically a pond. So, there you have it, I hope that helps!

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