Do rivers make lakes or do lakes make rivers?

Answer 1

Rivers can make lakes and lakes can make rivers.

Rain, melting ice and springs make rivers. When a river gets to a wider, deeper part of its course, it has to fill this depression to the brim before any water can continue downstream. That is how a river makes a lake.

When the water level gets as high as the lowest edge, water spills over and the river continues downhill.

Or, in a depression in the land, small streams or underground springs may create a lake, feeding directly into it. Again, nothing happens until the bowl is completely filled with water. Then, at the lowest edge, the water spills over and a river heads downhill on its way to the sea. That is how a lake makes a river.

Answer 2

Rivers typically feed into lakes by bringing water and sediment into them. Lakes can also be formed by other processes like glacial activity or volcanic activity. From lakes, rivers can then flow out, forming a new river system. So, in general, rivers feed lakes and lakes can in turn feed rivers.