Fresh water or freshwater is any naturally occurring liquid or frozen water containing low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids. The term excludes seawater …

Apr 3, 2025 · Every living thing on Earth needs water to survive, but more than 100,000 species, including our own, need a special kind of water that can only be found in certain places and is …

Aug 7, 2025 · Freshwater biomes support an astonishing diversity of life. Though they make up only about 3% of Earth’s water, they host 10% of all known animal species and 40% of all fish …

Jul 29, 2025 · From sustaining agriculture and energy to shaping landscapes and communities, freshwater is essential. NASA’s Earth science data helps the nation manage this vital …

Freshwater habitats—such as lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and aquifers—house an incredible proportion of the world’s biodiversity: more than 10% of all known animals and about 50% of …

Jun 16, 2025 · Freshwater ecosystems are characterized by their low salt concentration, typically less than 1% (or 1 part per thousand). This distinguishes them from marine and estuarine …

Freshwater lakes, however, contain well over 98 percent of the important surface waters available for use. Apart from that contained in saline bodies, most other continental waters are tied up…

Water is essential to life on Earth. It has three phases (solid, liquid, and gas). In these three phases, water ties together the major parts of the Earth’s climate system — air, clouds, the …

Aug 27, 2025 · Rivers and streams are flowing bodies of freshwater. Most originate in elevated areas like mountains and hills from rainfall and melting snow. As water flows downhill, small …

Jun 8, 2018 · The definition of freshwater is water containing less than 1,000 milligrams per liter of dissolved solids, most often salt. As a part of the water cycle, Earth's surface-water bodies are …