Water Cycle Diagram

Common Questions Answered

Did You Know?

• The water cycle has been happening for billions of years
• Water on Earth today is the same water dinosaurs drank
• 97% of Earth's water is in the oceans
• Only 3% is freshwater, and most is frozen
• A water drop can spend 3,000 years in the ocean

How to Explain the Water Cycle

The water cycle is nature's way of recycling water. The sun heats water in oceans and lakes, turning it into vapor (evaporation). This vapor rises and cools to form clouds (condensation). When clouds get heavy, water falls as rain or snow (precipitation). The water then flows back to oceans and lakes (collection), and the cycle repeats forever.