Many low-lying regions on the earth's surface are the basins of lakes that no longer exist. Small lakes can be filled in by deposits of mud, sand, and silt. These materials may form excellent soils. The lake habitat. Lakes create little worlds of their own.
Water plants live under the surface of lakes.
Some of the plants are attached to the lake bottom, and others float free. This vegetation provides food for water creatures such as water insects, snails, turtles, and fish. Lakes are also a habitat for waterfowl such as ducks, geese, swans, flamingos, egrets, cranes, and others. Land animals use lakes for drinking water. They also obtain food from lakes.