2007-03-09 19:55:55 · 6 answers · asked by squirrelnutzipper 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Geography
If a lake is inland, and therefore not a 'Sea', how do you explain The Dead Sea, which is landlocked. Why are the Great Lakes of North America lakes and not seas?
2007-03-09 21:03:49 · update #1
The dead sea is a misnomer,so is the Caspian sea,they are salt water lakes.
A sea becomes an ocean when it is big enough...many seas make up an ocean.
2007-03-10 01:19:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi Squirrel,
Good question.
I have always understood that it is a territorial thing.
In that if the aquatic borders are encompassed within the same country, it is basically a lake, no matter how big.
If, however the body of water is shared by more than one country it is entitled to be a sea.
Again, if the lump of water seperates continents, we name it an ocean.
Like all stuff in these areas, it can be more to do with the name it was first given by someone.
Where I used to live, was this the Straits of Hormuz, The Gulf of Arabia, or the Indian Ocean we are skiing on ?
It all looked the same to me, and roughly at the same point of the planet.
Then if I consider some lakes, they form a national border.
I am of the opinion that if you call my local sking lake an ocean, entirely within a county, or use the word "pond" to picture the Atlantic, a measure of grey delusion can creep into the perspective. Perhaps it is not enough water in the rum sometimes !
The OED is unsure as well.
Ah call the Pacific a puddle, and I shall name that puddle on the track Lake Bob.
Job Done.
Bob.
2007-03-10 03:49:12 · answer #2 · answered by Bob the Boat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lake is inland and so never becomes the sea...............the sea is the ocean, the names of each ocean are just related to the country of their shore lines..........the ocean has no breaks, it is all one mass of water. The lakes in Canada are freshwater lakes and the dead sea is a lake and only called sea because origionally peaople thought it was a sea!
2007-03-09 20:00:34 · answer #3 · answered by doingitallforwrenches 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Seas are purely aspects of the 5 oceans close to land. Eg. the Mediterranean and Carribean seas are purely aspects of the Atlantic Ocean, the sea of Japan is purely a community of the Pacific Ocean, etc.
2016-12-18 09:48:41 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My understanding is that lakes are land locked fresh water, seas are land locked saltwater, and oceans are not land locked, and are obviously salty.
2007-03-10 04:03:35 · answer #5 · answered by infinity 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When one chooses to rename a lake to a sea and a sea to an ocean....duh!
2007-03-09 20:03:58 · answer #6 · answered by nfgatcer 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋