About Lake Tahoe

The History Of Lake Tahoe-And Why It's Such A Great Place To Live

As far back as 10,000 years ago the Washoe indian tribe began inhabiting Tahoe. The name Tahoe comes from a mispronunciation of the Washoe word 'Da ow a ga' which means "edge of the lake." Capt. John Freman was the first Euro-American to sight Lake Tahoe in 1844. Later that year, westward pioneers were the first to visit the lake. The California gold rush of 1849 brought many gold seekers through Tahoe, some of whom stayed and started ranches and road houses. Much history remains in the settling of the Lake Tahoe region. The story of the Donner Party is a quite famous episode that occurred in the 1800's in which pioneers were trapped within the fierce winter weather of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and had to resort to cannibalism to survive. It was not until later that Spring that the remaining few who survived to tell the famous story were rescued. Much of the 49er gold rush boom took place in the foothills surrounding the Lake Tahoe area which includes the world famous 'Empire Mine' just outside of Grass Valley and is a 30 minute drive from Lake Tahoe. In the later half of the 19th century, Lake Tahoe forests were clear cut to supply mines in Virginia City, Nevada. After plundering the forests, entrepreneurs bought and devastated land cheaply and established exclusive hotels and ornate summer mansions for the wealthy.

Between 1912-1918 efforts to make Lake Tahoe a National Park failed because it lacked the pristine qualities required for a park status. With the advent of the automobile and improved roads, the scenic areas surrounding Lake Tahoe were made accessible to the general public in the 1920's. In the decades of the 1940's and 1950's campgrounds and inexpensive hotels became popular in the post-war boom. However, the decade of the 1960's brought the Lake Tahoe region to it's world famous status. Tahoe was firmly cemented as a world class ski resort area with the 1960 Winter Olympics being hosted at a local ski resort called "Squaw Valley" which then catapulted Tahoe into an international frame and firmly established it as a world-class resort with a two season economy. The ensuing 20 year building boom threatened the clarity of the lake and it's environment. The Lake Tahoe Regional Planning Agency was established in 1970 to regulate growth and protect the lake. The rest is history. Lake Tahoe is now a real estate rich goldmine with an fast growing economy. The lake attracts millions of visitors each year for it's beauty and legions of year round sporting activities which have transformed the area into a playground for the rich and famous.

How was Lake Tahoe formed? About 2-3 million years ago, the valley that became known as the Tahoe basin sank between two parallel fractures in the earths crust as the mountains on either side continued to rise. A shallow lake began to form at the South end of the valley, fed by snow melt and rain fall. About 1 to 2 million years ago, an erupting volcano blocked the outlet forcing the lake to rise. Then, between 1 million and 20,000 years ago large masses of ice sculpted the land surface and the terrain we see today.

What is Lake Tahoe weather like? Normal air temperatures are moderate, ranging from the high 20's in winter to the high 60's in summer. At least 7 months of the year daily maximum temperatures reach the outdoor comfort zone. The sky is partly sunny 84% of the time, leaving only 50 days a year per year for cloudy weather. Between Thanksgiving and Easter 80% of the precipitation occurs, mostly as snow fall. Typically at the lake level, 14 feet of snow falls and accumulates to a depth of about 3 feet.

How clear is Lake Tahoe water? Clarity is determined by measuring the water depth at which a one-foot diameter white disk appears from view. In the center of the lake, clarity has remained steady at 100 feet. Near the shoreline clarity has ranged from 105 feet in the late 60's to 72 feet in 2001. Over the last 34 years we have lost up to 46% of the historic clarity due to increased pollution. Why is Lake Tahoe water so blue? The lake surface reflects the color of the cobalt blue sky that reigns over Lake Tahoe much of the time. The characteristic turquoise color near the shore is a combination of the blue sky reflecting on the lake and the light reflected from the light colored bottom. How cold is Lake Tahoe? Below 600 feet the water temperature remains steady at 39 degrees F. During July and August, surface temperatures can reach 68 degrees. Along the shoreline, shallow enclosed areas become even warmer. There is one hot spring at Brockway in Kings Beach. In the coldest months, the lake surface drops to 40-50 degrees.

The region surrounding Lake Tahoe is a wonderful place to reside or own a vacation home. Now that you have learned about the rich history of Lake Tahoe, you can see why it's such an interesting place to vacation or reside. Whether it's a waterfront home you wish to purchase as a weekend retreat or a ski condo lifestyle away from big city hustle and bustle, you can't go wrong owning a piece of property within the Lake Tahoe vicinity. Real estate appreciation rates have hovered in the 20% range in the last few years with the surge of record low interest rates allowing real estate investors and new home owners to penetrate the market. Profits are soaring-so don't get left out. Invest in the Truckee, Carnelion Bay, Squaw Valley, or North Shore areas of the beautiful Lake Tahoe region today. The Lake Tahoe real estate market has never been hotter!