Lake Tahoe, USA

Der etwa 497 km² große Lake Tahoe ist ein See auf der Grenze der US-Bundesstaaten Nevada und Kalifornien. Der See wurde im 19. Jahrhundert zunächst bis 1862 Lake Bigler genannt, zu Ehren des dritten Gouverneurs von Kalifornien, John Bigler. 1862 wurde dann der Name Tahoe (nach dá'aw Washoe für See) eingeführt und beide Namen wurden parallel genutzt. Erst seit 1945 heißt der See offiziell Lake Tahoe.

Lake Tahoe (/ˈtɑːhoʊ/; Washo: dáʔaw) is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of 6,225 ft (1,897 m), it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is 1,645 ft (501 m), making it the deepest in the United States after Crater Lake (1,945 ft (593 m) Additionally, Lake Tahoe is the sixth largest lake by volume in the United States at 122,160,280 acre·ft (150,682,490 dam3), behind the five Great Lakes.
The lake was formed about 2 million years ago and is a part of the Lake Tahoe Basin with the modern lake being shaped during the ice ages. It is known for the clarity of its water and the panorama of surrounding mountains on all sides. The area surrounding the lake is also referred to as Lake Tahoe, or simply Tahoe. More than 75% of the lake's watershed is national forest land, comprising the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit of the United States Forest Service.
Lake Tahoe is a major tourist attraction in both Nevada and California. It is home to a number of ski resorts, summer outdoor recreation, and tourist attractions. Snow and skiing are a significant part of the area's economy and reputation. Mountain and lake scenery are attractions throughout the year. The Nevada side also includes large casinos. Highways provide year-round access from Reno, Carson City, and Sacramento.
(Quelle: Wikipedia)