Why do some lakes disappear during droughts?

A lake survives only as long as it receives enough water from rainfall, rivers, springs, or groundwater. In drought years, those inputs shrink while evaporation continues, especially in hot or windy climates. Shallow lakes are the most vulnerable because a small drop in depth can expose large areas of lakebed. Human water use can also accelerate the decline by diverting inflows. Some basins refill later, while others become seasonal or intermittent lakes.