Question

If a lake were completely isolated from all rivers and streams so that the only way it could get rid of water was by evaporation, would it most likely be a freshwater or saltwater source?

Answer 1

If a lake is completely isolated from all rivers and streams and loses water solely through evaporation, it would most likely become a saltwater source over time. This is because, as water evaporates, it leaves behind dissolved salts and minerals, which become more concentrated in the remaining water. Eventually, the accumulation of these salts can lead to the formation of a saline or saltwater lake. Examples of such lakes include the Great Salt Lake in Utah and Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, which are both found in environments where evaporation exceeds inflow, leading to high salinity.