Reservoir vs. Lake — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on August 9, 2024
Reservoirs are man-made bodies of water created for specific purposes like water supply, while lakes are natural water bodies formed by environmental processes.
Difference Between Reservoir and Lake
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Reservoirs are artificial constructs, often created by damming rivers to store water for human use such as drinking, irrigation, or hydroelectric power; whereas lakes are naturally occurring bodies of water, typically formed by geological or environmental changes like glacial activity or volcanic activity.
The primary purpose of reservoirs is to manage water resources for human activities, ensuring supply during dry periods and controlling flood risks; while lakes primarily serve ecological roles, supporting diverse ecosystems and often becoming recreational sites.
In terms of biodiversity, reservoirs might have limited species diversity initially due to their artificial nature and the specific conditions created by water management practices; on the other hand, lakes often host a wide variety of plants, animals, and microorganisms that have adapted to their natural environmental conditions over millennia.
Reservoirs are usually monitored and maintained by governmental or private entities to meet human demands and safety standards, including regular checks on water quality and dam stability; whereas lake management might be less intensive unless they are part of a conservation or tourist area.
The water levels in reservoirs are generally controlled and can fluctuate significantly depending on human usage and seasonal cycles; in contrast, lake water levels are more influenced by natural factors like precipitation, evaporation, and inlet/outlet stream flows.
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Comparison Chart
Origin
Man-made, often by damming rivers
Natural, formed by environmental processes
Primary Purpose
Water storage for human use, flood control
Ecological balance, recreation
Biodiversity
Often limited initially; controlled environment
High; evolved naturally over time
Management
Actively managed for water quality and safety
Less intensively managed
Water Level
Controlled, subject to human needs
Influenced by natural factors
Compare with Definitions
Reservoir
A part of a mechanical system that holds fluid.
Check the brake fluid level in the reservoir.
Lake
A popular location for recreational activities like fishing and boating.
They spent the weekend fishing on the lake.
Reservoir
An area where water is collected and stored for future use.
Fish populations in the reservoir have been carefully monitored.
Lake
A large body of water surrounded by land.
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America.
Reservoir
An artificial lake where water is stored.
They visited the scenic reservoir during their vacation.
Lake
A natural or man-made pond or basin filled with water.
The village by the lake attracts many tourists in summer.
Reservoir
A storage space for fluids, especially water.
The new reservoir holds enough water to irrigate the entire valley.
Lake
A landscape feature contributing to local biodiversity.
The lake supports a variety of bird species.
Reservoir
A reservoir (; from French réservoir [ʁezɛʁvwaʁ]) is most commonly an enlarged natural or artificial lake created using a dam to store water. Reservoirs can be created in a number of ways, including controlling a watercourse that drains an existing body of water, interrupting a watercourse to form an embayment within it, through excavation, or building any number of retaining walls or levees.
Lake
A significant body of stagnant water.
The ancient lake bed was discovered during the excavation.
Reservoir
A natural or artificial pond or lake used for the storage and regulation of water.
Lake
A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, apart from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although like the much larger oceans, they form part of Earth's water cycle.
Reservoir
A receptacle or chamber for storing a fluid.
Lake
A large area of water surrounded by land
Lake Victoria
Boys were swimming in the lake
Reservoir
An underground accumulation of petroleum or natural gas.
Lake
An insoluble pigment made by combining a soluble organic dye and an insoluble mordant.
Reservoir
(Anatomy) See cisterna.
Lake
A large inland body of fresh water or salt water.
Reservoir
A large or extra supply; a reserve
A reservoir of goodwill.
Lake
A scenic pond, as in a park.
Reservoir
(Medicine) An organism or population that directly or indirectly transmits a pathogen while being virtually immune to its effects.
Lake
A large pool of liquid
A lake of spilled coffee on my desk.
Reservoir
A place where anything is kept in store.
Lake
A pigment consisting of organic coloring matter with an inorganic, usually metallic base or carrier, used in dyes, inks, and paints.
Reservoir
A large natural or artificial lake used as a source of water supply.
Lake
A deep red.
Reservoir
A small intercellular space, often containing resin, essential oil, or some other secreted matter.
Lake
A large, landlocked stretch of water or similar liquid.
Reservoir
A supply or source of something.
Lake
A large amount of liquid; as, a wine lake.
Reservoir
A species that acts as host to a zoonosis when it is not causing acute illness in other susceptible species.
Lake
A small stream of running water; a channel for water; a drain.
Reservoir
(computing) A "black box" component that receives an input signal to be read out and mapped by another process, as part of reservoir computing.
Lake
(obsolete) A pit, or ditch.
Reservoir
(transitive) To store or keep (something) in or as in a reservoir.
Lake
(obsolete) An offering, sacrifice, gift.
Reservoir
A place where anything is kept in store; especially, a place where water is collected and kept for use when wanted, as to supply a fountain, a canal, or a city by means of aqueducts, or to drive a mill wheel, or the like.
Lake
(dialectal) Play; sport; game; fun; glee.
Reservoir
A small intercellular space, often containing resin, essential oil, or some other secreted matter.
Lake
(obsolete) A kind of fine, white linen.
Reservoir
A large quantity of infectious microorganisms resident in animals other than man, potentially capable of being transmitted to humans.
Lake
In dyeing and painting, an often fugitive crimson or vermillion pigment derived from an organic colorant (cochineal or madder, for example) and an inorganic, generally metallic mordant.
Reservoir
A large quantity of infectious microorganisms or parasites resident in animals other than man, potentially capable of being transmitted to humans; especially, such organisms in animals where they do little or no harm to the host.
Lake
In the composition of colors for use in products intended for human consumption, made by extending on a substratum of alumina, a salt prepared from one of the certified water-soluble straight colors.
The name of a lake prepared by extending the aluminum salt prepared from FD&C Blue No. 1 upon the substratum would be FD&C Blue No. 1--Aluminum Lake.
Reservoir
A large supply or stock of anything which may be rapidly put to use; a reserve.
Lake
(obsolete) To present an offering.
Reservoir
A large or extra supply of something;
A reservoir of talent
Lake
To leap, jump, exert oneself, play.
Reservoir
Lake used to store water for community use
Lake
To make lake-red.
Reservoir
Tank used for collecting and storing a liquid (as water or oil)
Lake
A pigment formed by combining some coloring matter, usually by precipitation, with a metallic oxide or earth, esp. with aluminium hydrate; as, madder lake; Florentine lake; yellow lake, etc.
Lake
A kind of fine white linen, formerly in use.
Lake
A large body of water contained in a depression of the earth's surface, and supplied from the drainage of a more or less extended area.
Lake
To play; to sport.
Lake
A body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
Lake
A purplish red pigment prepared from lac or cochineal
Lake
Any of numerous bright translucent organic pigments
Common Curiosities
How is a lake formed?
A lake is formed by natural processes such as glacial activity, volcanic activity, or changes in river courses.
Can a lake be artificially created?
Yes, a lake can be artificially created by damming rivers or excavating land.
What are common uses of reservoirs?
Common uses include water supply, irrigation, flood control, and recreation.
How do reservoirs affect local ecosystems?
They can alter local ecosystems by changing water flow and temperature regimes.
What is a reservoir?
A reservoir is an artificial lake where water is stored for various purposes, such as supplying water or generating hydroelectric power.
What is the difference between a reservoir and a dam?
A reservoir is the body of water stored behind a dam, which is the structure built to hold back water.
What types of activities can be done on a lake?
Activities include boating, fishing, swimming, and water sports.
Do all lakes have natural outlets?
Most natural lakes have outlets, but some do not, especially in arid or closed basins.
Are reservoirs safe for aquatic life?
Safety for aquatic life in reservoirs depends on water quality and management practices.
Why are reservoirs important for cities?
They provide a reliable water source for urban areas, supporting drinking, sanitation, and industrial activities.
What wildlife is typically found in lakes?
Lakes often host fish, birds, amphibians, and various aquatic organisms.
How are lakes protected by law?
Many lakes are protected under environmental laws to preserve their natural state and ecosystem.
How deep are reservoirs compared to lakes?
Depth can vary widely, but reservoirs are often deeper near the dam structure.
What are the challenges in managing a reservoir?
Challenges include maintaining water quality, managing sediment, and balancing water needs with ecological preservation.
Can reservoirs be used for energy production?
Yes, many reservoirs are integral parts of hydroelectric power generation systems.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
