Water in the World

1. An area of land where rainfall is collected and drains into a river, lake, or other body of water.
3. The process of removing salt and other impurities from seawater to make it suitable for drinking or irrigation.
5. A line on a map that joins points of equal elevation, used to show the shape and height of the land.
6. The relationship between distances on a map and the actual distances on the ground.
10. The process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas or vapor, usually due to heat from the sun.
12. The careful management and use of natural resources to prevent waste and preserve them for future generations.
14. Using resources in a way that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
17. A body of permeable rock that can store and transmit groundwater.

2. Related to the detailed mapping and description of the surface features of an area, including elevation and landforms.
4. The presence of harmful substances in the environment, such as chemicals or waste in water sources.
7. The increasing number of people living in towns and cities, often leading to greater demand for water and pressure on water systems.
8. A situation where there is not enough of a resource, such as freshwater, to meet the needs of people and the environment.
9. Water that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth’s surface, including rain, snow, sleet, and hail.
11. The release of water vapor from plants and trees into the atmosphere.
13. Water, often from rain, that flows over the land surface and into rivers, lakes, or oceans.
15. The process of water soaking into the soil and moving into underground reservoirs or aquifers.
16. A large natural or artificial lake used to store water for human use.