The name given to the study of lakes is limnology. Limnologists have used several criteria for the development of systems for classifying lakes and lake basins but have resorted particularly to the mechanisms that have produced lake basins. These have been summarized and examined in A Treatise on Limnology, by the American limnologist G.E. Hutchinson, which includes treatment of tectonism, volcanism, landslides, glaciation, solution, river action, wind action, coastline building, organic accumulation, animal activity, meteoritic impact, and human activity.
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