The illustration below depicts the water cycle, demonstrating how water in lakes, rivers, and rain is formed through a continuous natural process.
The cycle begins with the evaporation of water from the sea, driven by the sun’s heat. Wind carries this invisible water vapor to areas with cooler temperatures. Simultaneously, transpiration from plants and trees contributes additional moisture to the air. As these water-laden air masses continue to travel on wind currents, they cool further, forming clouds.
As the clouds move and cool even more, precipitation occurs in the form of rain. The rainwater follows two main paths: it either flows downstream through river networks or is absorbed into the ground, percolating through layers of porous rock. This absorbed groundwater eventually emerges to feed lakes, rivers, and ultimately returns to the sea.
This cyclical process repeats indefinitely, continuously creating clouds and precipitation, thus maintaining the Earth’s water balance. The water cycle plays a crucial role in distributing water resources across the planet, supporting ecosystems and sustaining life.