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
Under the bottom of the lake is a layer of impermeable rock. Otherwise it does leak into the ground, forming an aquifer, and leaving a dry lake bed in it’s wake.
The rate of recharge is also pretty close to the rate of evaporation in many cases; when it’s greater than evaporation rates, it overflows causing flooding, when it is less than evaporation rates, the water levels in the lake start to drop.
The hydrologic cycle is a good place to start looking to satisfy your curiosity
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