Underwater Swim

Put on your snorkeling mask because you're about to swim in the lake to get an underwater view!

For this activity:

1. Think about lakes you've visited or that you've heard of. Write down and draw a picture of the critters that live in a lake. If you have a favorite lake you like to visit, then describe it!

 

How's the underwater view?

NPS

 

The stillness of the lake is disrupted by ripples moving through the water. You notice volcanic ash slowly difting down onto the lake. Under the water, you notice there's parts of the lake that are murky. Sediment gets stirred up beneath the water. There's also parts of the lake that have thick green mats of algae called diatoms that feel really slimy.

You can distantly see the shape of several large bottom-dwelling fish and a smaller school of fish swims by. Above the water's surface, you notice a bird picking through the wet dirt along the lake's edge. Peeking above the water is an aquatic tall plant called cattails.

As you continue swimming, you start to feel different flies buzzing around. You decide to get out of the water shortly after.

Where to next?

1. Back to the lake.
2. Revisit the Eocene.
3. Return to the present.