To explain further, what stops lakes from simply seeping into the dirt, and thus vanishing? As a follow up question, what stops water from getting evaporated, and then the clouds move somewhere else and rain, thus depriving the lake of the water it lost?
In: Earth Science
A lot of areas have clay soils which form a seal, and do not let water penetrate once a wet seal has formed. These clays are often used for sealing dams and other man-made structures. In areas where the clay isn’t necessarily under the lake naturally, it washes down from other areas and accumulates in a low area, forming the lake bed, sealing it from water seeping away.
If you have ever come across mud where, once you dig into it a few inches, the soil under the mud is dry, you likely came across this kind of clay. I believe these clays are known as smectite clays. Correct me if I’m mistaken, any geologists out there.
This is just one type of water-holding geology. I’m sure there are others. If you make a man-made pond, and don’t want to line it with plastic (which works, but which can get ruptured), lining it with a substantial layer of sealing clay before filling it with water is the old fashioned way of making a pond.
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