What is the difference between freshwater Flowing Water and Standing Water?

Flowing water occurs on land in freshwater streams and rivers. Flowing water usually begins to flow due to snowmelt or lakes that overflow. The water usually flows to the sea.

Flowing water can be fast-moving, slow-moving, or stagnant (not moving – it is motionless). Scientists usally regard motionless water to be stagnant if it has not moved in four consecutive days.

Standing water occurs on land in freshwater ponds and lakes. Water sources are called reservoirs of water that can be small or large, shallow or deep.

Lakes usually last for hundreds of years, whereas ponds are seasonal depending on the precipation (rainfall or snowfall).

Some land animals like to live in or near flowing water and some land animals like to live on or near standing water.

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM