Once we know that the word “reservoir” comes from the French, meaning a storehouse, then we can figure out that a reservoir is just that — a storehouse of water.

Reservoirs can be built in many different ways, in many different places, and for many different uses. Most often, the water is needed for use in homes and workplaces in the area — for drinking water, to run machinery, and other uses. It’s also often used by farmers in the areas to irrigate their fields so that their crops grow well. Another major use of the water in reservoirs is to produce electricity — hydropower produces almost a fifth of the world’s electricity.

But reservoirs have other uses that you might not think of; some are full of fish, both for commercial fishing and for the local enthusiast. And some reservoirs are just fun places to be, with sailing, swimming, and nature walks for all the family.

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