Bodies of Water An overview of types of bodies of water, focusing on New Jersey waterways. By Mrs. Vanyi 

Ocean An ocean is the largest body of salt water on Earth. The ocean found in New Jersey is the Atlantic Ocean.

Lake A lake is a large body of water surrounded by land on all sides. Lake Hopatcong is the largest freshwater body in New Jersey. It is approximately 4 square miles in area. The lake is located in the mountains of northern New Jersey, along the border between Sussex and Morris counties.

River A river is a large, flowing body of water that usually empties into a sea or ocean. The Toms River is a 41.7-mile-long freshwater river and estuary in Ocean County. The Toms River starts in the Pine Barrens and flows east, fed by several branches, in a meandering course through wetlands and empties into Barnegat Bay.

Aquifer An aquifer is an underground source of drinking water. More than 75% of the freshwater supply in the New Jersey Coastal Plain is from ground water.

Glacier A glacier is a slowly moving river of ice.  The Late Wisconsinan glaciers entered New Jersey something over 20,000 years ago and were retreating northward by about 18,000 years ago.