THE
LAKE TAHOE BASIN
When you visit Lake Tahoe, one of the things that will surprise
you is that the people you meet who call Lake Tahoe their home
have a fine sense of the area's history and heritage. In fact,
some of the best views of Tahoe can be seen through the eyes of
the locals!
Although Lake Tahoe is economically dependent on tourism, its approach
is more friendly, casual and accommodating than most vacation destinations.
You really get the sense that almost everyone's livelihood is associated
with showing visitors a wonderful time.
And when you come to Lake Tahoe to play, you will be able to find
a number of people who are experts at any activity that you are
wanting to enjoy. Many business owners will tell you that they
have been skiing or fishing or whatever for all of their life.
They love what they do and they are good at it. They look at each
day as another opportunity to do what they are passionate about
while making new friends. Out-of-doors or indoors, work is play
for many folks in Tahoe!
The residents of the Lake Tahoe Basin are the guardians of this
paradise and they accept this responsibility with pride. They know
their history and heritage and are dedicated to the preservation
of their environment and committed to extending warm hospitality
to vacationing guests.
A
CHRONICLE
If you are interested in knowing more about the Lake Tahoe Basin,
please read on. The following sections provide a brief overview
of how nature and man have independently and jointly contributed
to create this magnificent vacation destination. In addition, a
list of resources are offered for those wanting more comprehensive
information.
Chances are your vacation will be even more enjoyable if you come
to Tahoe with an appreciation for how it came to be what it is
today!
GEOLOGY
Lake Tahoe is a masterpiece of nature and most locals can tell
you just how it was created. In a nutshell, the Tahoe Basin was
formed about five to ten million years ago by the rising and falling
of the land due to the shifting of geologic faults.
Tremendous forces began the western tilt of the Sierra Nevada block.
As a result, two principal parallel faults developed. The eastern
margin created the Carson Range and the western margin created
the Sierra Nevada. The up-thrown fault blocks created the highest
peaks in the region. The down-thrown fault blocks sank to create
a deep v-shaped valley, now called the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Later, about two million years ago, volcanic activity followed
and played a key role in further reshaping the landscape of the
region. Lava flowing from Mt. Pluto formed a barrier across the
Basin's northeastern outlet, creating a natural dam across Lake
Tahoe's original outlet, the Truckee River. Water from the snowfall
and streams gradually filled the Lake Tahoe Basin, over 600 feet
higher than its present lake level! Eventually, a new outlet eroded
through the northeastern lava dam, creating the present path of
the Lower Truckee River, the only outlet of the lake.
Then an Ice Age developed and huge glaciers grew in the surrounding
mountains and gradually moved down the v-shaped canyons on the
western side of the lake. The glaciers scoured away loose rock
and reshaped the canyons into the broad, u-shaped valleys of Emerald
Bay, Fallen Leaf Lake and Cascade Lake.
Today, the highest point in the Tahoe Basin is Freel Peak at 10,881
feet. The deepest part of Lake Tahoe is near Crystal Bay, measuring
a water depth of 1,645 feet.
MAP
OF LAKE TAHOE
Copyright
© 1998 - 1999 Tahoe Keys Resort. All Rights Reserved.
LAKE
TAHOE FACTS & FIGURES
Tahoe residents are extremely proud of their lake and sooner
or later you will hear all of the following facts, persuading
you to grant them bragging rights.
Surrounded by mountains, the present day lake sits in a valley
at an elevation of 6,229 feet. It is the highest lake of its
size in the United States. It is the third deepest lake in North
America and the tenth deepest lake in the world.
Lake Tahoe is 22 miles in length and 12 miles in width and covers
a surface area of 191 square miles. The consistently beautiful
shoreline is 71 miles, with the California shoreline being 42
miles and the Nevada shoreline being 29 miles.
This breathtakingly blue lake is so clear that in some places
objects can be seen to depths of 75 feet! The reason the lake
is so blue is that the thin, clear mountain air allows the lake's
pure, crystalline water to reflect the blue sky above. The lake
can also appear red during sunsets or gray-black during storms.
The average annual rainfall in the Lake Tahoe Basin is 8.3 inches
and the average annual snowfall is 216 inches or 18 feet, for
a total annual precipitation of 30 inches. (The ski areas average
350-600 inches of snow per year!) Most of the snow and rain falls
directly into the lake or drains through lakeside marshes and
meadows that act as water filtering systems, preserving the purity
of the water.
Sixty-three streams flow into Lake Tahoe, but the Truckee River
is the only one that flows out, past Reno and into Pyramid Lake.
The maximum depth is 1,645 feet, near Crystal Bay, and the average
depth is 989 feet. The water shed of Lake Tahoe is 519 square
miles. The lake holds over 39 trillion gallons of water, enough
to cover a flat area the size of California to a depth of 14
inches. If drained, it would take 700 years to refill the lake!
Lake Tahoe loses much if its water to evaporation. If the water
that evaporates from the lake every 24 hours could be recovered,
it would supply the daily requirements of a city the size of
Los Angeles.
The maximum surface water temperature is 68 degrees F. and the
minimum surface water temperature is 41 degrees F. Below 600
feet, the lake's water is extremely cold, staying at 39 degrees
F. year-round.
And for the curious, Lake Tahoe never freezes because the huge
volume of lake water is always in motion. Each winter, the cold
water on the surface sinks while warm water rises from the deep.
Some protected inlets like Emerald Bay have been covered with
a layer of ice at times.
So, let the locals have their moments by resisting the urge to
say, "I knew that!"
ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY
The glorius peaks that surround Lake Tahoe are mountains of
granite. This light gray, medium to coarse-grained rock is prevalent
in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, along with other igneous rocks
and metamorphic slate.
Granite is composed of two light-colored minerals, quartz and
feldspar. Some granite appears to be salt and pepper in appearance
due to the presence of darker colored minerals such as iron and
magnesium.
Much of the sandy, sterile soil in most of the region is composed
primarily of decomposed granite rock. It is coarse in texture,
low in plant nutrients and high in erosion potential. Fortunately,
much of the sandy soil in the region is covered by a "duff" of
fallen pine tree needles and decomposing natural materials. This
natural covering helps cushion and absorb rainfall, thus slowing
the speed of natural erosion.
When you visit the Lake Tahoe Basin, it is best to stay on established
trails and roads in order to minimize the disturbance of this
fragile surface condition.
FLORA & FAUNA
TREES
Alder, Aspen, Cedar, Jeffrey Pine, Lodgepole Pine, Ponderosa
Pine, Sierra Juniper, Sugar Pine, White Fir, Willow.
WILDFLOWERS
| Blue & Purple: |
Dwarf Alpine Aster, Lupine, Meadow Penstemon |
| Pink & Red: |
Columbine, Indian Paintbrush, Shooting Star, Snow Plant,
Thistle |
| White: |
California Corn Lily, Common Yarrow, Cow Parsnip, Mariposa
Lily, Ranger Buttons |
| Yellow: |
Buttercup, Mountain Mule Ears, Sulphur Flowers |
BIRDS
American Robin, Bald Eagle, California Gull, Canada Goose, Dark-eyed
Junco, Hairy Woodpecker, Mallard, Mountain Chickadee, Red-tailed
Hawk, Steller's Jay, Western Tanager, Yellow-Headed Blackbird.
MAMMALS
Black Bear, Coyote, Douglas Squirrel (Chikaree), Golden-mantled
Ground Squirrel, Mule Deer, Pine Martin, Yellow-bellied Marmot.
HISTORY & HERITAGE
Tahoe's shores have attracted summer visitors for thousands
of years. The first humans to enjoy the Lake Tahoe Basin were
the Native American culture group know as the Washoe. The discovery
of stone artifacts and projectile points confirms the Washoes
presence 10,00 years ago. They migrated each summer from the
Carson Valley area seeking the cooler temperatures, abundant
fish and plentiful game of Lake Tahoe. The Washoe women made
exceptionally fine baskets of remarkable artistry.
"Da-ow-a-ga" was the Wahsoe Indian name for Lake Tahoe. The Washoes
considered "the jewel of the Sierra" the birthplace of their heritage.
The area from Taylor Creek to Camp Richardson was a favorite site. Today they
are known as the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California.
Sadly, the Washoe homeland nearly perished in a scant period
of time during the Comstock Lode silver and logging boom during
the 1860s to early 1880s. The natural resources of the region
are still recovering from the mass deforestation that occurred
during this relatively brief period of time.
The first recorded sighting of Lake Tahoe by a non-Native American
was by John C. Fremont in February of 1844. His exploration party
was guided by the legendary scout Christopher "Kit" Carson.
The party first viewed part of Lake Tahoe when they arrived at
the top of Red Lake Peak, 10,651 feet elevation, at what is now
Carson Pass. This area is located 20 miles southwest of South
Lake Tahoe.
In 1848 Kit Carson carved a trail over what is now called the
Carson Pass. This trail became the main east/west route from
Utah to California and was known as the Mormon-Emigrant Trail.
For many years thereafter, the area was virtually ignored. In
1859 the Comstock Lode was discovered in Virginia City, Nevada.
During the 1860s Tahoe became the center of a lively commerce
involving the silver mines in Virginia City and the Central Pacific
Railroad, which was pushing over the Sierra toward the town of
Truckee.
Wood was needed to supply the mines, the new boomtowns and the
railroad. An extensive logging empire was established on the
east shore of the lake from Incline Village to Glenbrook. The
loggers clear-cut the entire shoreline until both the silver
mines and the demand for timber petered out in the late 1870s
to early 1880s. The scars of the logging industry lasted for
decades.
By the 1890s Lake Tahoe had become a popular retreat for the
wealthy from San Francisco, Sacramento and Virginia City. At
this point in history the only industry that showed promise was
tourism, so the rush began to build resorts.
In retrospect, from the turn of the 19th century small groups
of diverse people discovered the lake's beauty and resources.
Native Americans, explorers, early entrepreneurs, Basque sheepherders,
Chinese laborers, and society's elite each contributed to the
foundation of Tahoe's heritage.
By action of the California state legislature in 1945, Lake Tahoe
became the official name of the lake. The Indian word "tahoe" means "big
water."
INFORMATION
RESOURCES
To receive more information about attractions, special events,
the Washoe culture and parks in the Lake Tahoe Basin, contact
the following resources:
About
Lake Tahoe
Extensive, categorized on-line directory of Tahoe area
activities, weather, accommodations, etc.
812 Kekin Street
South Lake Tahoe, Ca 96150
530-573-1939
Gold Country Best Guide to Lake Tahoe
Online guide to Tahoe events, fishing, golfing, lodging, real estate, skiing, timeshares, and weather.
KRLT and KOWL Radio Stations
KRLT 93-9 The Lake "Hits That Rock" and KOWL 190 The Owl "Tahoe's Talk" are the heritage Stations serving the Lake Tahoe basin and surrounding areas. Having been on-the-air for 34 and 53 years respectively. Loyal local listeners are the key to our success! We are well known as the promotionally active Sierra Stations with involvement in community events around the Lake. Tune in today!!
PO Box 11101
Zephyr Cove, NV 89448
775-580-7130
877-229-9703
See Lake Tahoe - Your Online Guide to Lake Tahoe
South
Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce
Write, call or visit:
3066 Lake Tahoe Blvd. / U.S. HWY 50
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
530-541-5255
Douglas-Tahoe
Chamber of Commerce
Write or call:
P.O. Box 7139
Stateline, NV 89449
775-588-4591
Visit:
Roundhill Shopping Center
195 U.S. HWY 50
Zephyr Cove, NV 89448
775-588-4591
North Lake Tahoe
Chamber of Commerce
Write or call:
P.O. Box 884
Tahoe City, CA 96145
530-581-6900
Visit:
245 North Lake Blvd.
Tahoe City, CA 96145
530-581-6900
Incline Village-Crystal
Bay Chamber of Commerce
Write, call or visit:
969 Tahoe Blvd.
Incline Village, NV 89451
775-831-4440
Write or call:
Washoe
Tribe of Nevada and California
Archive & Cultural
Center
861 Crescent Drive
Carson City, NV 89701
775-888-0936
Washoe Exhibit
The Washoe Indian Cultural Foundation Exhibit is located in the
Baldwin Museum at the Tallac Historic Site. The Washoe display
includes housing, artifacts, pictures and a slide presentation.
Visit the area the Washoe called home in the summer months. The
Baldwin Museum, Washoe Gardens and special programs offer an
opportunity to learn about the Washoe culture. For information,
call the Visitor Center at the Tallac Historic Site.
530-573-2674.
Write, call or visit:
California
State Parks
Sierra Area Headquarters
P.O. Box 266
7360 West Lake Blvd.
Tahoma, CA 96142
530-525-7232
SR 89 on the West Shore
Nevada State Parks
Sand Harbor State Park
P.O. Box 8867
Incline, NV 89452
775-831-0494
SR 28 on the East Shore
USDA - Forest
Service
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
870 Emerald Bay Road
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
530-573-2694
One quarter mile north of the "Y" on SR 89
USDA - Forest
Service
El Dorado National Forest
Information Center
3070 Camino Heights Drive
Camino, CA 97509
530-644-6048
West on U.S. HWY 50, 10 minutes east of Placerville
