Lake Tahoe is more than the Jewel of the Sierra — it is a place of legend, beauty, and fun.
The Lake Tahoe Basin was formed by a geologic block faulting about 2 to 3 million years ago. A geologic block fault is a fracture in the Earth's crust causing blocks of land to move up or down. Uplifted blocks created the Carson Range on the east and the Sierra Nevada on the west. Down-dropped blocks created the Lake Tahoe Basin in between.
Whether you swim, fish, sail, or simply rest on the Tahoe shores, you’ll be wowed by the overwhelming beauty of Lake Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in North America. Famous for its crystal-blue water and surrounding snowcapped mountains have earned Lake Tahoe the reputation of being one of the most beautiful bodies of water in the United States.
Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the U.S and rests on the state line between California and Nevada. With an average surface elevation of 6,225 ft (1,897 m) above sea level, Lake Tahoe is the highest lake of its size in the United States. Spring and Fall in the Lake Tahoe area offers hiking, river boating, kayaking, river rafting, cycling and sightseeing. The water temperature near the surface cools to 40 to 50°F (4.5 to 10°C) during February and March and warms to 65°F to 70°F (18°F to 21°C) during August and September.