| Lake Tahoe | |
|---|---|
| Dáʔaw (Washo) | |
 The south shore of Lake Tahoe in California, as seen from the west shore | |
  Lake Tahoe Location of Lake Tahoe in California  Lake Tahoe Location of Lake Tahoe in Nevada  Lake Tahoe Location of Lake Tahoe in the USA | |
 Lake Tahoe from space | |
| Location | The Sierra Nevada of the U.S., along the state line of California and Nevada |
| Coordinates | 39°N 120°W / 39°N 120°W |
| Lake type | Ancient lake, Geologic block faulting |
| Primary outflows | Truckee River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 22 mi (35 km) |
| Max. width | 12 mi (19 km) |
| Surface area | 191 sq mi (490 km2):[1] Placer County (41%) El Dorado County (29%) Douglas County (13%) Washoe County (11%) Carson City (6%) |
| Average depth | 1,000 ft (300 m)[1] |
| Max. depth | 1,645 ft (501 m) |
| Water volume | 36 cu mi (150 km3; 120,000,000 acre⋅ft)[2] |
| Residence time | 650 years |
| Shore length1 | 71 mi (114 km) |
| Surface elevation | 6,225 ft (1,897 m)[1] |
| Frozen | Rarely, in Emerald Bay[3] |
| Islands | Fannette Island |
| Settlements | Incline Village, NV South Lake Tahoe, CA Stateline, NV Tahoe City, CA Kings Beach, CA |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lake Tahoe (/ˈtɑːhoʊ/; Washo: Dáʔaw) is a freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the Western United States, straddling the border between California and Nevada. Lying at 6,225 ft (1,897 m) above sea level, Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America,[4] and at 122,160,280 acre⋅ft (150.7 km3) it trails only the five Great Lakes as the largest by volume in the United States. Its depth is 1,645 ft (501 m), making it the second deepest in the United States after Crater Lake in Oregon (1,949 ft or 594 m).[1]
The lake was formed about two million years ago as part of the Lake Tahoe Basin, and its modern extent was shaped during the ice ages. It is known for the clarity of its water and the panorama of surrounding mountains on all sides.[5] The area surrounding the lake is also referred to as Lake Tahoe, or simply Tahoe; its English name is derived from its Washo name, Dáʔaw.[6] More than 75% of the lake's watershed is national forest land, covered by the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit of the United States Forest Service.
Lake Tahoe is a major tourist attraction in both Nevada and California. It is home to winter sports, summer outdoor recreation, and scenery enjoyed throughout the year. Snow and ski resorts are a significant part of the area's economy and reputation.[7][8] The Nevada side also offers several lakeside casino resorts, with highways providing year-round access to the entire area.
- ^ a b c d
This article incorporates public domain material from Facts About Lake Tahoe. United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on June 4, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
- ^ van der Leeden; Troise; Todd (1990), The Water Encyclopedia (2nd ed.), Chelsea, MI: Lewis Publishers, pp. 198–200
- ^ "Today in Tahoe History – February 28". Tahoe History. February 28, 2017. Archived from the original on July 4, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
- ^ "Visit Lake Tahoe". Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority.
- ^ "Water Quality". The League To Save Lake Tahoe. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
- ^ "The Washoe People" Past and Present
- ^ "Lake Tahoe Resorts Winter sports". Porters Tahoe. Archived from the original on January 2, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
- ^ Munson, Jeff (October 21, 2008). "In rocky economy, ski-resort jobs are seen as more than free passes". Nevada Appeal. Retrieved October 29, 2008.
