LAKES AND THEIR FORMATION 



By J. LOMAS, F.G.S., A.R.C.S. 



WE can sum up the characteristic 

 feature of a river in one word — 

 activity. Every drop of water 

 coursing through its channel seems to 

 have a set purpose in view, and hurries 

 along as fast as it can consistent with the 

 josthng against 

 its fellows and 

 the hindrances 

 caused by ob- 

 stacles in its 

 path. But 

 mounting and 

 sinking, eddying 

 and turning, it 

 never rests. Its 

 power to over- 

 come difficulties 

 and to accom- 

 pUsh its pui"pose 

 is mainh' kin- 

 etic. 



Contrast this 

 with the lake 

 which interrupts 

 for a time the 

 progress of the 

 river towards 

 the sea. Here 

 the dominant 

 feature is tran- 

 quillity. The 

 varying phases 

 of the lake re- 

 side not so 



much in itself as in its environment. 

 borrows its moods from the glint of 

 sun and the passing cloud shadow, 

 mirrors steep crags and gentle pastures, 

 and on its still surface " float double — 

 swan and shadow." 



The storm gust rushing down from the 

 encircling heights may for a time ruffle 

 the surface into waves, but in the depths 

 all remains calm and silent. The energies 

 possessed by a lake are potential rather 



76 5 



than kinetic, but where the waters leave to 

 form the river anew the stored up energy 

 again takes on the active form. 



In passing through the resting stage the 

 river changes many of its characteristics. 

 It enters a fitful uncertain thing, now 



■BANKS 



SAND AND MUD FORM A DELTA 

 ENTERS THE LAKE." 

 Rydal Water. 



■WHERE THE CURRENT 



It 



the 



It 



strong, \\hen in flood, now feeble, in times 

 of drought. It leaves a constant, steady 

 stream, and may be relied upon to do its 

 task in all weathers and at all times. It 

 enters, mud-stained and carrying a burden 

 gathered from the mother hills ; it leaves, 

 clear and hmpid. clarified from earthy 

 waste, free and unburdened. 



But in setting free the river the lake 

 contributes to its own undoing. The 

 carrying power of the inflowing stream is 



qy 



