The stages of the water cycle include:
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Evaporation: The sun heats up water in rivers, lakes, and oceans, turning it into water vapor.
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Condensation: Water vapor in the air cools and condenses into clouds.
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Precipitation: When the clouds become heavy with water, precipitation occurs in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
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Collection: Water from precipitation collects in rivers, lakes, and oceans, ready to start the cycle again through evaporation.