Lake Tahoe is located on the western border of Nevada and the eastern border of California. It is located 198 miles (316.8 kilometers) north of San Francisco, 98 mi. (156.8 km.) east of Sacramento, California, and 158 mi. (252.8 km.) west of Reno, Nevada. It is central to several national forests and state parks. It is known for its purity and exceptional clarity. You can once see objects clearly as deep as 100 feet (30.48 meters) below its surface. This lake is 72 mi. (115.2 km.) of coastline, with open beaches and sheltered and shaded coves.

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. The water has a purity level of 99.9%, making it one of the cleanest natural water resources on the planet. It is 22 miles (35.2 km) long and 12 mi. (19.2 km.) wide. The deepest point is 1,645 feet (501.39 meters), 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 states that Tahoe never freezes to 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 to be drained, it would take seven hundred years to refill it. Furthermore, if Lake Tahoe were to overturn, the contents would cover an area the size of California (163,707 square miles or 423,837 square kilometers) in 14.5 inches. (36.83 cm.) of water. The total volume of water is 39 billion gallons (902,063,703 barrels-UK)!

Even at its height, the top 12 feet (3.65 meters) of surface water can reach 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) in the summer, and the shallows off the coast get even hotter. At the coldest point, the surface temperature can drop by 40 to 50 degrees F (4.44 to 10 degrees C). Depths below 600 and 700 feet. (182.88 and 213.36 meters) remains consistently at 39F (3.88C) throughout the year.

The Lake Tahoe Basin sees an annual snowfall of 152 inches (386.08 cm), which typically occurs between December and March. This represents 80% of the total annual rainfall in the area. Average temperatures range from 60 to 80 F (15.55 to 26.66 C) between June and October, and from 20 to 60 F (6.66 to 15.55 C) from November to May. Records show that the mountain peaks surrounding the basin can be covered in snow throughout the year, 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 placid and calm.

History

Lake Tahoe was formed when the valley that became the Tahoe Basin collapsed between two parallel fractures in the Earth’s crust. The mountains continued to form over a period of time. The lake began to fill at the southern end of the valley, fed by melting snow and rain. During the course of the formation, an erupting volcano blocked the water drainage outlets and forced the lake to rise. During the Ice Age, large masses of ice determined the layout of the land surface and terrain, which is the current topography that can be seen when visiting the Basin.

The Washoe Tribe of Native Americans inhabited the Tahoe region for 10,000 years. The Washoe called the area “Da ow a ga”, translated as “edge of the lake”. Early white visitors to the area mispronounced this name and called it “Tahoe”. The name remained in this English form.

In 1844, pioneers began settling throughout the Tahoe Basin and establishing claims to the land. In 1849, during the California Gold Rush, more settlers arrived, opening roadhouses and establishing ranches and farms. Towards the end of the 19th century, many Tahoe forests were cleared to supply wood and fuel to the Comstock Mines in Virginia City, Nevada. Once the land had been stripped of its natural afforestation, entrepreneurs took over the land (literally, very cheaply) 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 “unspoiled” 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. Affordable campgrounds and hotels sprung up after World War II, and were very popular during the post-war growth period.

The 1960 Winter Olympics thrust Tahoe into the international spotlight and were instrumental in establishing it as a world-class resort. It quickly became popular in both winter and summer. The growth period 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 and excellent skiing, as well as its warm-weather amenities. 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 Watershed has been restored to its natural beauty. The views are magnificent and the forests provide a habitat for many species of wildlife, including some that are listed in the United States as endangered.