The water cycle describes how water is circulated and recycled around the Earth. It involves evaporation of water from oceans, lakes, and rivers into vapor which rises into the atmosphere. The water vapor then condenses to form clouds through condensation. Precipitation occurs when the clouds become too full and water falls back to the Earth as rain, snow, sleet or hail. The water is then collected in oceans, lakes, rivers, and soil to be evaporated again, restarting the cycle.