Final answer:
Rivers and streams are continuously moving bodies of water that carry water from the source to a lake or ocean. The characteristics of rivers and streams vary along their length, with narrower channels and faster currents at the source. Lakes are large bodies of standing water that can be formed by different geological processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rivers and streams are continuously moving bodies of water that carry large amounts of water from the source, or headwater, to a lake or ocean. The largest rivers include the Nile River in Africa, the Amazon River in South America, and the Mississippi River in North America.
Abiotic features of rivers and streams vary along the length of the river or stream. Streams begin at a point of origin referred to as source water. The source water is usually cold, low in nutrients, and clear. The channel (the width of the river or stream) is narrower than at any other place along the length of the river or stream. Because of this, the current is often faster here than at any other point of the river or stream.
Lakes are large bodies of standing water that are usually surrounded by land. They can be formed by tectonic activity, glacier movement, or the damming of a river. Lakes can range in size from small, shallow ponds to large, deep bodies of water, like the Great Lakes in North America.