Lake Tahoe is located on the western border of Nevada and the eastern border of California. It is located 316.8 kilometers (198 miles) north of San Francisco, 98 miles. (156.8 km.) East of Sacramento, California, and 158 mi. (252.8 km.) West of Reno, Nevada. It is critical to various national forests and state parks. It is known for its exceptional purity and clarity. Once you can clearly see objects as deep as 100 feet (30.48 meters) below its surface. This lake is 72 miles long. (115.2 km.) On the coast, with open beaches and shady and sheltered coves alike.
Tahoe is the eighth largest lake in the world (519 square miles or 1,343.69 square kilometers) and is the third largest lake in the United States. It is fed by 63 streams and two hot springs. Water is 99.9% pure, making it one of the cleanest natural water resources on the planet. It is 22 miles (35.2 km) long and 12 miles. (19.2 km.) Wide. The deepest point is 501.39 meters (1645 feet), making it the 10th deepest lake in the world. The floor of the Lake Tahoe basin is at an elevation of approximately 4,580 feet (1,395.98 meters).
A research resource claims that Tahoe never freezes at its depth, due to its depth and the constant movement of the water. This same source went on to state that if the lake were ever drained, it would take seven hundred years to fill it up again. Furthermore, if Lake Tahoe were “capsized,” the contents would cover an area the size of California (163,707 sq. Mi., Or 423,837 sq. Km.) In 14.5 in. (36.83 cm.) Of water. The total volume of water is 39 trillion gallons (902,063,703 barrels-UK)!
Even at its height, the first 12 feet (3.65 meters) of surface water can reach 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) in the summer, and the shallow waters off the coast get even warmer. At the coldest time, the surface temperature can drop between 40 and 50 degrees F (4.44 to 10 degrees C). Depths below 600 and 700 feet. (182.88 and 213.36 meters) remain consistently at 39F (3.88C) throughout the year.
The Lake Tahoe Basin has an annual snowfall of 152 inches (386.08 cm), which typically occurs between December and March. This represents 80% of the total annual precipitation for the area. Average temperatures range from 60 to 80F (15.55 to 26.66C) between June and October, and from 20 to 60F (6.66 to 15.55C) from November to May. Records show that the mountain peaks surrounding the basin can be covered in snow year-round, and in fact there can be snowfall even in the hottest months.
The water is typically turquoise blue and reflects the sky and surrounding objects as clearly as a mirror when the surface is calm and quiet.
History
Lake Tahoe was formed when the valley that became the Tahoe Basin sank between two parallel fractures in the earth’s crust. Mountains continued to form over a period of time. The lake began to fill at the southern end of the valley, fueled by melting snow and rain. During the course of the formation, an erupting volcano blocked the outlets for water drainage and forced the lake to rise. During the Ice Age, large masses of ice determined the disbursement of land and terrain, which is the current topography that can be seen when visiting the Basin.
The Native American Washoe Tribe inhabited the Tahoe region for 10,000 years. The Washoe called the area “Da ow a ga”, translated as “edge of the lake”. The first white visitors to the area mispronounced this name and called it “Tahoe.” The name remained in this anglicized form.
In 1844, pioneers began settling in the Tahoe Basin and making claims to the land. In 1849, during the California Gold Rush, more settlers arrived, opened roads, and established stakes on ranches and farms. Towards the end of the 19th century, many Tahoe forests were razed to supply wood and fuel to the Comstock mines in Virginia City, Nevada. Once the land was stripped of its natural afforestation, businessmen seized the land (literally very cheap) and began building hotels and mansions for the wealthy.
In the early 1900s, serious attempts were made to have Lake Tahoe declared a national park. These efforts failed due to the fact that the area had been devastated and lacked the “intact” qualities necessary for national park status.
With the advent of the automobile and improved roads, Tahoe lost its exclusivity with the influx of the general population. After World War II, cheap camps and hotels emerged, which were very popular during the postwar growth period.
The 1960 Winter Olympics placed Tahoe in the international spotlight and were instrumental in establishing it as a world-class resort. It quickly became popular in both winter and summer. The period of growth that followed threatened the purity of the lake and its surroundings. In 1970, a group of conservationists and residents came together to form a regional planning agency to regulate growth and protect the lake.
Tahoe is known today for its wonderful cold-weather sports conditions and excellent ski slopes, as well as warm-weather comforts. It is a magnet for tourists from all over the world. Thanks to the efforts of the regional agency, as well as the National Forest Service and other conservationists, much of the area surrounding the Basin has been restored to its natural beauty. The views are magnificent, and the forests provide habitat for many species of wildlife, including some of those listed in the United States as endangered.
