How do bodies of water exist above ground?

Question

How come bodies of water (lakes, rivers, wetlands, oceans even…) exist above ground instead of the water simply being absorbed by the earth?

In: 855

Answer 1

Impermeable rock is deep underground. The soil and rock above it DO have water inundated in them much of the time. When the water is fully saturated it has nowhere else to go but the surface.