Lakes and rivers are important bodies of freshwater on Earth. Lakes and rivers contain water, which can exist as a solid, liquid, or gas. While water covers 70% of the Earth's surface, most is saltwater - only 1% of the total water on Earth is freshwater available for human use, found primarily in lakes and rivers. Rivers drain the landscape and transport water and minerals to oceans, beginning as small streams and merging into larger rivers like the Amazon and Mississippi that span great distances. Lakes vary in depth, size, and location around the world, storing about 90% of the Earth's surface freshwater aside from oceans.

1. Characteristics and Structure of Earth’s Lakes & Rivers Kelly Marcellus EED 411 Science Wiki

13. Lakes

14. Rivers