This property allows water to remain a liquid at relatively high temperatures. Therefore, it fills oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams, and is a major component of plant and animal eco-systems.
Water has a very high heat capacity.
Water heats and cools more slowly than many other substances. This property helps in the distribution of the sun's heat throughout the world in the form of warm ocean currents. It also protects living things from freezing or vaporizing during abrupt climate changes. Water is less dense as a solid than as a liquid. This allows ice to float on water.