Thread: 2 questions on geography terms in English -caves and springs

That's pretty cool, Zhel! It reminds me of the Innui who have dozens of words for "Snow".

I can't thinking of any distinction in those sorts of caves...though the act of exploring a cave is called "spelunking"

Similarly, I can't really think of the fine difference in the springs you mention, though your "vrelo" made me think of an "Artesian Well", but that is not generally a HUGE body of water-- can have a lot of volume, though.

Hmm.....we need Lev, I think

Lisa

PS-- of course there are unscientific words like Brook, stream, creek, slough, etc....

Originally Posted by BeSeeLisa

Similarly, I can't really think of the fine difference in the springs you mention, though your "vrelo" made me think of an "Artesian Well", but that is not generally a HUGE body of water-- can have a lot of volume, though.

I looked on the net for Artesian well and it seems to be an artificial means to get to the water that is deep down in the ground in an underground lake. There used to be some in our northern plains back in 19th - early 20th century, but after dams were built on Danube the underground water started to have higher concentration of sediment and salt so they are abandoned now...

Vrelo is something like a whole small river coming out of the mountain by natural means. At that place the soil is generally eroded so a pool forms - and hosts some organisms adapted to cool and clear but reasonably still water (still because water flow moves on above the pool) - not something we have otherwise, as our rivers slow down only in the lowlands when they become warm and full of sediment.

I don't know of words to distinguish the two either.

But I do know about artesian wells and springs because our (San Antonio) only source of water comes from the Edward's Aquifer, which is an artesian aquifer. [url="http://www.edwardsaquifer.net/"]http://www.edwardsaquifer.net/[/url]

An artesian well is a drilled well, but pumping isn't required because there is enough pressure to bring the water to the surface with machines.

Artesian springs work the same way, except they aren't drilled at all, water just bubbles to the surface.

Originally Posted by Mary/SATX

Aresian springs work the same way, except they aren't drilled at all, water just bubbles to the surface.

I think that is what I was thinking of, Mary, or else aquafier...

Hmmm...

Language is such fun!