Freshwater

Did you know that most of the Earth's freshwater is not in lakes or rivers but stored in frozen glaciers and ice caps?

What is the largest source of freshwater on Earth?

• Rivers

• Lakes

• Glaciers and Ice Caps

• Groundwater

Freshwater supports many animals and plants. Some bodies of water are smaller than lakes and can be found in parks or forests.

Which of the following is an example of a freshwater ecosystem?

• Ocean

• Coral Reef

• Pond

• Mangrove

The water we use daily for drinking comes from sources beneath the Earth’s surface or collected in reservoirs.

Which of the following is a primary source of drinking water?

• Saltwater

• Groundwater

• Industrial wastewater

• Stormwater runoff

When you leave a glass of water outside, it slowly disappears. This is because water changes into vapor and rises into the air.

What is the term for the process where water from lakes, rivers, and oceans turns into vapor?

• Condensation

• Precipitation

• Evaporation

• Infiltration

Many power plants use flowing water to generate electricity. These are commonly built on rivers.

Which freshwater body is most commonly used for hydroelectric power generation?

• Oceans

• Rivers

• Ponds

• Wells

Freshwater is found in lakes, rivers, and ice caps, but most of the Earth's water is actually salty!

Which of these is NOT a form of freshwater?

• Groundwater

• Ice caps

• Rainwater

• Seawater

Some freshwater is hidden underground and stored in porous rock layers. It is accessed through wells.

What type of freshwater is found underground in porous rock layers?

• Glacial water

• Surface water

• Groundwater

• Runoff

There are many large freshwater lakes in the world, but one in North America has the biggest surface area.

What is the largest freshwater lake by surface area?

• Lake Baikal

• Lake Victoria

• Lake Superior

• Lake Tanganyika

Human activities, such as dumping waste into lakes and rivers, are a major problem for clean water.

What is a major threat to freshwater availability?

• Overfishing

• Deforestation

• Water pollution

• Acid rain

When cities expand, they use more water from rivers and lakes. This can lead to shortages.

Which of the following human activities directly affects freshwater sources?

• Deforestation

• Overfishing

• Urbanization

• Space exploration