Correct option is C
Introduction
· Lakes are inland bodies of water that occupy depressions on the Earth's surface, formed through various geological, tectonic, or glacial processes.
· Tectonic lakes, in particular, are created by the movements of the Earth's crust, such as tilting, folding, or faulting, which create significant natural basins.
· Understanding the geomorphology of lake basins is essential in environmental science for studying sedimentation patterns and long-term ecosystem stability.
Information Booster
· Graben lake is the correct answer because it specifically refers to a lake formed within a "Graben," which is a depressed block of the Earth's crust bordered by parallel normal faults.
· These lakes are often characterized by being very deep, long, and narrow, as they occupy the floor of rift valleys created by tectonic divergence or crustal stretching.
· A classic example of such a formation is Lake Baikal in Siberia or the various lakes found within the East African Rift Valley, such as Lake Tanganyika.
· The downward displacement of the central fault block (the graben) creates a natural catchment area where water accumulates over geological timescales.
· Because of their tectonic origin, these lakes are often among the oldest and deepest freshwater bodies on the planet.
Additional Knowledge
· Grade lake is not a standard geological term for a lake type; however, "graded" usually refers to a stream or slope that has achieved a state of equilibrium between erosion and deposition.
· Surface lake is a general descriptive term for any body of water on the Earth's exterior but does not specify a particular geological formation process or tectonic origin.
· Glacial lake refers to a lake formed by the action of glaciers, such as those created by glacial erosion (cirque lakes) or by the damming of water by glacial debris like moraines.
· Horst and Graben structures often occur together, where the "Horst" is the uplifted block between faults and the "Graben" is the sunken block that eventually becomes the lake bed.