Bodies of water are natural or artificial accumulations of water, such as oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams, that play vital roles in ecosystems and human activities. Articles are a unique way for readers to learn about the world around them. In addition to building reading comprehension skills and increasing vocabulary, articles can be used for writing and research. The article is broken into 6 single-page sections: What Are Bodies of Water?; Oceans, Seas, Gulfs, Bays, and Estuaries; Rivers, Deltas, Streams, and Waterfalls; Lakes, Ponds, Wetlands, and Bayous; Fun Facts; and Words to Know.