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What Kind of Landforms Are Found in Ponds?

Lakes and ponds are a vast natural reserve of freshwater found in many parts of the world. In general, ponds are smaller than lakes, but some ponds can be quite large at the surface, especially when maximum depth is used as the major defining criteria. Ponds are most common in terrain that has been scoured by a retreating glacier, but these bodies of water may be a result of volcanic, geothermal or land subsidence activities.

Retreating Glaciers
- When glaciers melt they recede. When this occurs over a long time the mass of ice is thought to be retreating. Such an event can leave hundreds of miles of glaciated terrain. This rugged landscape is characterized by the presence of boulders of many different sizes and numerous depressions created by the movement of ice. These natural potholes often fill with water to create a geographic area dotted with numerous lakes and ponds. Minnesota, Maine and Ontario, Canada, are several locations where this geological action has created a land of many lakes and ponds.
Moraine Ponds
- During a glacier's life, each mass of ice has a terminal point or line marking its forward progress. This is also the area where the glacier began to recede. Determination of this end point is possible even after the glaciers have completely melted, because of the large amount of sand and gravel left behind at this exact point. The deposits left at the end of a glacier are called terminal moraines. Sometimes this silt and rock forms a natural dam, which creates a large lake or in some cases a small pond.
Saltwater Ponds
- Saltwater ponds can be created in subtropical regions like Florida, Mexico and Bermuda, where flat coastlines are built on volcanic or limestone rock strata. A saltwater pond will form when depressions in the coastal landscape fall to below sea level. After this happens the freshwater increases in salinity, as the pond is usually connected to the sea by underground tunnels and caves. As a result, these small bodies of water may harbor a wide array of aquatic lifeforms. The Yucatan region of Mexico is famous for its cenotes, or deep natural wells, which are formed in a similar manner.
Geothermal
- Geothermal heating can force underground water toward the surface, where the heated liquid may form geysers, as well as heated pools and ponds. These kinds of natural phenomena are most commonly found when underground magma collects near the surface of the Earth. One famous place where this occurs is Yellowstone National Park. This type of body of water is characterized by high concentrations of minerals and limited presence of small organisms due to the high water temperatures.

Nature