Geography question from JKAS Prelims, 2023 by JKPSC
Which of the following lake types is called a 'dead lake'?
Last updated May 15, 2026
Correct Answer:
Option D —
Ox-bow lake
Why is it called a "dead lake"?
An ox-bow lake is often referred to as a "dead lake" because it is a stagnant body of water that has been cut off from the main river flow.
In the lifecycle of a river, as it meanders across a plain, the loops become tighter until the river eventually breaches the narrow neck of the loop to take a straighter path. The abandoned loop is left behind, losing its source of fresh, moving water. Without a current to flush it out, the lake eventually fills with sediment and vegetation, "dying" as it turns into a swamp or bog.
Answer verified by Quintessence Classes faculty — Karan Nagar, Srinagar.
