Changes

Lake Tahoe is about 22 mi (35 km) long and l2 mi (19 km) wide and has 72 mi (116 km) of shoreline and a surface area of 191 mi2 (495 km2). The floor of the Lake Tahoe Basin is at an elevation of about 4,580 ft (1,396 m), which is lower than the surface of the Carson Valley to the east! 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.

Lake Tahoe is about 22 mi (35 km) long and l2 mi (19 km) wide and has 72 mi (116 km) of shoreline and a surface area of 191 mi2 (495 km2). The floor of the Lake Tahoe Basin is at an elevation of about 4,580 ft (1,396 m), which is lower than the surface of the Carson Valley to the east! 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.

The water temperature near the surface generally cools to 40 to 50 °F (4.5 to 10 °C) during February and March and warms to 65 to 70 °F (18 to 21 °C) during August and September. Below a depth of 600 to 700 ft (183 to 213 m), the water temperature remains a constant 39 °F (4.0 °C).

The water temperature near the surface generally cools to 40 to 50 °F (4.5 to 10 °C) during February and March and warms to 65 to 70 °F (18 to 21 °C) during August and September. Below a depth of 600 to 700 ft (183 to 213 m), the water temperature remains a constant 39 °F (4.0 °C).  Because of its size and depth Lake Tahoe has never completely frozen over.

Lake Tahoe has a water clarity of about 100 ft (30 m) deep. Factors contributing to (and affecting) its clarity include the following:

Lake Tahoe has a water clarity of about 100 ft (30 m) deep. Factors contributing to (and affecting) its clarity include the following:

*One major grocery chain in the area (Raley's, which has three locations in cities/villages adjacent to the lake) does not offer plastic bags to customers, only paper or reusable bags are offered.

*One major grocery chain in the area (Raley's, which has three locations in cities/villages adjacent to the lake) does not offer plastic bags to customers, only paper or reusable bags are offered.

The largest communities at Lake Tahoe are the twin cities of South Lake Tahoe, California/Stateline, Nevada (the most developed area around the lake; Stateline is heavily developed with no less than four high-rise casinos), Tahoe City, California (northwest) and Incline Village, Nevada (north-northeast).

Because of its size and clarity Lake Tahoe is a popular tourist destination.  The largest communities at Lake Tahoe are the twin cities of South Lake Tahoe, California/Stateline, Nevada (the most developed area around the lake; Stateline is heavily developed with no less than four high-rise casinos), Tahoe City, California (northwest) and Incline Village, Nevada (north-northeast).

    

    

The above scientific Information on this page was gathered from the  Stream and Ground-Water Monitoring Program, Lake Tahoe Basin, Nevada and California (pdf format) fact sheet, also available on the web at  http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/FS/FS-100-97/.

The above scientific Information on this page was gathered from the  Stream and Ground-Water Monitoring Program, Lake Tahoe Basin, Nevada and California (pdf format) fact sheet, also available on the web at  http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/FS/FS-100-97/.

[[Category:Lakes]]

[[Category:Lakes]]