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Letter EGeology glossary

Endorheic Basin

An endorheic basin is a closed drainage basin where water does not drain into the ocean but instead accumulates in a central lake or evaporates. These basins are often found in arid regions and are characterized by high salinity levels in their lakes due to evaporation. Endorheic basins are significant in hydrology, geology, and environmental studies of arid regions.

Satellite image of a deep blue mountain lake (endorheic basin)
Fig. 1 Satellite image of a deep blue mountain lake (endorheic basin)

Source Deocampo, D. M. (2015). “Endorheic Basins.” In: Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences. Elsevier.

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