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TAHOE is a Washoe Indian word, generally believed to mean "Big
Water" or "Blue Water". While no exact definition
has ever been agreed upon, many have interpreted the word to mean
many things. Mark Twain, while visiting the Lake in his earlier
days was said to have defined Tahoe as "Grasshopper soup." Others
have said the word means "Strong Water" or "Whiskey." Whatever
the meaning, the word Tahoe has long had a mystical connotation,
which is appropriate in describing the overwhelming beauty of
the Lake.
PHYSICAL
| Elevation: |
The surface elevation varies between 6223' and 6229' depending
upon the snowpack and how much water is released through the
Truckee River. The highest peak on the Lake's shoreline in
Mount Tallac at 9735', while the highest peak in the basin
is Freels Peak at 10,881'. |
| Location: |
Lake Tahoe is located on the California/Nevada border, 198
miles northeast of San Francisco, 98 miles east of Sacramento,
and 30 miles southwest of Reno, Nevada. |
| Size: |
Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake on the North American
Continent. It is 12 miles wide, 22 miles long, with a surface
area of 198 square miles. The shoreline is 72 miles long while
its maximum depth is 1645 feet. The average depth of the Lake
is 989 feet. The Lake Tahoe Basin, that area defined along
the crests of the Sierra Nevada and the Carson Range, covers
482 square miles. |
| Volume: |
Lake Tahoe contains an estimated 122 million-acre feet of
water, enough to cover the entire state of California to a
depth of 14 inches! The water which evaporates from the Lake's
surface every 24 hours, 1.4 million tons, is enough to supply
the needs of 3.5 million people every day. |
| Water Clarity: |
Tahoe's waters are among the purest in the world at 99.7%
pure. A white dinner plate can be seen 120 feet below the
surface with little trouble. |
| Water Temp. |
During the summer, the upper 12 feet of the Lake forms a
layer that can warm to 68 degree F., but below depths of 700
feet during the winter the temperature remains a constant
39 degrees F. |
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| CLIMATE |
| Snowfall: |
Lake Tahoe gets an average of 215.4 inches of snowfall, or
a little under 18 feet. Upper elevations can get between 300
and 500 inches. |
| Winds: |
Winds are generally mild, 10-15 mph, and out of the west
and northwest. During storm periods, winds can average 25-35
mph or more. |
| Sunshine: |
Rarely a dreary day, Lake Tahoe typically gets at least 307
days of sun per year. |
| Temperature: |
Average temperature in July - 79 high; 43 low
Average temperature in January - 36 high; 16 low |
| Dress: |
Sweaters and jackets are almost always necessary in the evenings.
Winter means heavy jackets and warm boots and clothes, while
summer days can be spent in shorts and T-shirts. |
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