How Beavers Make Small Lakes

Beavers are animals that live on land and in water. They build dams, walls across small rivers, with wood. A dam makes the water slow down. The water behind it gets deeper. This can make a pond, a small lake. Some water can still go through or over the dam.

Deep water helps beavers get food and stay safe. They can go into their homes from under the water. The dam is not their home. Some beavers already have deep water and do not build dams.

Fast water carries small bits of ground. In slower water, some bits fall to the bottom. Water can also go into the ground beside the pond.

These changes give many plants and animals new places to live. But they are not good for all of them. Some plants cannot live under water. Dams can also change where fish can go. This is different in different rivers.

Beavers make these changes for themselves, but they change other animals 'homes too.