By Matthew Fortuna
Simple Facts About Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe, nestled between California and Nevada, is the second deepest lake in the
United States. It is a freshwater body in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The city is a popular skiing
resort and tourist attraction. Known for its scenic beauty, the Lake Tahoe area is covered in snow much of the year and is a majestic locale in the Sierra Nevada region.
History
Lake Tahoe was formed during a period of ice ages over two million years ago. It was formed by dragging glacial deposits in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Depth
Lake Tahoe is 1,645 feet deep at its deepest point. The only deeper lake in the United States is Crater Lake in Oregon.
Rivers
Lake Tahoe empties only into the nearby Truckee River in northern Nevada and northern California. Conversely, it is fed by over 60 different rivers.
Sports
Lake Tahoe accommodates a number of outdoor sports. The region features over a dozen ski resorts, multiple beaches and hundreds of hiking trails.
Fannette Island
Fannette Island, the only island within Lake Tahoe, is situated within Emerald Bay on the California side of the lake. It can only be accessed by boat.
Exploration
Though the area has been populated by indigenous people since at least the Middle Ages, the first American to explore the area was the famous Lt. John C. Fremont.
Casinos
With gambling legal on the eastern side of Tahoe, in Nevada, there are 11 casinos lining the north and south shore of the lake in Stateline, Incline Village and Crystal Bay, Nevada.
About the Author:
Matthew Fortuna is a full-time freelance writer with a journalism degree from Wayne State University, living in the Detroit metropolitan area. He has written about a wide range of topics across varying publications, including Demand Studios, wiseGEEK.com and Suite101.com, among others. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Wayne State University.
Photo Credits:
Flickr commons