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View south toward Freel and Jobs Peaks (ssss1)

Introduction to Lake Tahoe

Tall mountains covered with a thick blanket of conifers surround the breathtakingly blue lake, creating a stunning, alplike setting, which is famous around the globe. Whether you plumb the depths of Lake Tahoe, climb to the summit of the highest peak, or journey somewhere in-between, the Tahoe Basin provides many opportunities to appreciate the grandeur of one of the West’s most priceless treasures.

Geography and Topography

The Lake Tahoe Basin presents diverse topography that receives adoration from a devoted tourist base. At an elevation of 6,229 feet, Tahoe is the highest lake of its size in the United States and, with a depth of 1,645 feet (measured near Crystal Bay), is the third deepest lake in North America and the 10th deepest lake in the world. The 22-mile-long and 12-mile-wide lake has a 71-mile-long shoreline, with 42 of those scenic miles belonging to California and the remaining 29 owned by Nevada. Lake Tahoe is perhaps best known for the crystal clarity of its waters, which allows visibility of up to 75 feet below the surface. Sixty-three streams flow into Lake Tahoe, but only one, the Truckee River, flows out of the lake, reaching its terminus in the Great Basin, at Pyramid Lake.