Have you ever wondered if your pond is a lake? Most ponds are small, so it can seem like the line between a pond and a lake is pretty clear.
But I started to wonder what that line actually is. Is it based just on size?
Is there a particular body length that makes it a pond or a lake? When does a pond become a lake?
Whichever question you’re asking, this article is right up your alley!
Are Ponds and Lakes the Same Thing?
The distinction between lakes and ponds can be confusing sometimes. Even though they often overlap in their physical characteristics, they’re not the same.
Some key differences separate them into different categories, such as:
- Ponds are small, shallow bodies of water. Lakes are large, deep bodies of water.
- Ponds are always freshwater, while lakes can sometimes be saltwater.
When Does a Pond Become a Lake?
If a stream, or several streams, can feed and support a pond over time, the pond will eventually turn into a lake.
Furthermore, if a pond exceeds 20 acres in size or 20 feet in depth, it’s considered a lake. Here are a few examples of former ponds that are now known as lakes.
- Mud Pond to Mirror Lake in Canaan.
- Mosquito Pond to Crystal Lake in Manchester.
- Dishwater Pond to Mirror Lake in Tuftonboro.
How Are Ponds and Lakes Different?
In some parts of the world, people use the terms “pond” and “lake” interchangeably.
This is true, especially in regions with only a few ponds. So, what’s the difference between a pond and a lake?
1 – Size
A pond is a small body of standing water that’s not part of a river, lake, or ocean.
Ponds are way smaller than lakes. They’re usually not over 20 acres in size.
However, they vary in size depending on their purpose. Some are small enough to fit in your backyard, while others span acres upon acres.
Because they’re so versatile, there’s no exact definition for what makes up a pond. This is unlike other bodies of water, like lakes or rivers.
A lake is a large body of standing water, usually freshwater. In other words, a lake is a pond on steroids. After all, these guys can be over 200 acres in size!
2 – Depth
Lakes are deeper than ponds. If you look at the depth of a lake, it’s usually between 20 and 4000 feet deep.
A pond will be only 20 feet deep, so they’re not even close in terms of depth. Also, lakes have a lot more surface area than ponds because of their larger size.
3 – Construction
Ponds are often man-made and are almost always freshwater. They’re well-known for recreation and fishing, but they also serve as habitats for many animals.
You can find lakes in both natural and man-made environments. Glaciers, rivers, and streams can form them.
They can also be made from human activity, such as damming or diversion.
4 – Water
Ponds are freshwater, with very few exceptions. Lakes are generally freshwater but can include small quantities of saltwater.
How Are Ponds and Lakes Similar?
Ponds and lakes are both bodies of water that natural or artificial means have formed. You may find them in a variety of environments, such as grasslands.
Ponds and lakes have many similarities. Both are usually smaller than other bodies of water, such as oceans and seas.
Both ponds and lakes have a bottom, sides, and surface area. The bottom of the pond or lake is where aquatic plants grow and animals can live.
The sides are made up of soil, sand, or rock that separates it from other bodies of water. Both ponds and lakes have many similarities, such as living organisms that inhabit them.
Some examples are fish, frogs, plants (like algae), etc.
They also contain chemicals, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), which helps plants grow. Ponds and lakes also have high levels of dissolved oxygen in their waters.
This is because they contain smaller amounts of organic matter than other bodies of water like rivers do. This allows organisms like fish to breathe easier when they live in these waters.
They also contain food animals eat, such as plankton (tiny organisms) found in ponds and lakes.
Are Ponds Freshwater or Saltwater?
Ponds are mostly freshwater. However, they can sometimes be brackish.
Saltwater ponds exist. However, they typically have a direct connection to the sea, which is salt water.
These saltwater ‘ponds’ could not support freshwater or saltwater organisms. Therefore, many people think of them as a part of the marine ecosystem.
As a result, they’re not really within the scope of freshwater science.
How Are Ponds Formed?
Ponds are formed in a variety of ways, and the exact origin of your pond depends on its location. In some parts of the world, natural ponds are formed when erosion causes rocks or soil to collapse into a depression in the ground.
Water seeps into these depressions and fills them with water. The gradual accumulation of water from rain and melting snow can form them.
The damming of a stream or river may also form ponds. As water flows over rocks and soil, it picks up soil particles and organic matter from the land surface.
Lastly, ponds can be made artificially by humans digging out a hole in the ground and filling it with water. The size of ponds depends on the amount of rain that falls into them each year.
How Long Does It Take to Form a Pond?
The answer depends on the size of your body of water.
Small ponds can form in as little as a few days, while large lakes can take months or years to develop.
When there’s heavy rainfall and snowmelt, water will flow over land and collect in low spots. This forms small depressions that fill with rainwater until they become permanent bodies of water (i.e., ponds).
What Kind of Organisms Live In a Pond?
A pond can be home to many kinds of organisms. Some are visible, such as fish and frogs. Others are microscopic, such as bacteria and algae.
Bacteria are single-celled organisms that you can only see with a microscope. They play a critical role in the ecosystem of a pond by helping to decompose dead plants and animals.
Algae are another type of microscopic organism that consists of simple plants that grow in water. They have no roots or leaves, but they have chlorophyll, which helps them turn sunlight into food.
You can often find algae growing on the surface of ponds because it needs sunlight to survive. Many larger species live in ponds, such as turtles, snakes, lizards, and frogs.
These animals are called reptiles because they lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young like mammals do (such as cats).
How Long Does It Take For a Pond to Become a Lake?
Well, that depends on how much water is flowing into it. If you have a small amount of water flowing in, you’ll have a smaller body of water with shallower depths than if there were more flow.
If there’s no current at all, or if what little current there are carries away any new sediments that get deposited, then your pond will never grow deeper or wider as time passes.
It will remain stagnant until another force (such as glacial retreat), comes along to reshape its boundaries and increase its size.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this article has helped you to become more familiar with the world of ponds and lakes.
In the end, it doesn’t matter what you call it, so long as it’s correctly identified. If you want to call it a lake, feel free. If you want to stick with “pond,” that’s fine too.
Happy swimming!
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
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