What natural source of water is formed when water from an aquifer rises to the ground surface?

A spring is formed when water from an aquifer rises to the surface naturally. This occurs when the pressure in the aquifer is sufficient to push the groundwater upward, creating a flow of water that emerges at the surface. Springs are crucial to many ecosystems, often providing a consistent source of fresh water.

Unlike lakes, which are enclosed bodies of water typically fed by rivers or streams, springs have a direct link to underground aquifers. Wells, on the other hand, require human intervention to extract groundwater from an aquifer and do not rely on natural pressure. Streams are flowing bodies of water that can originate from springs but are distinct as they may also be fed by rains, runoff, and other water sources, not just from groundwater. Thus, springs are specifically associated with the natural emergence of groundwater.