In shallow areas, the water can appear emerald or turquoise in color since green is the predominant light color at shallow depths. In addition, under the right conditions, the Lake surface can reflect the adjacent mountains and the color of the sky.Ĭlarity is determined by measuring the water depth at which an 8-inch diameter white disk disappears from view. The Lake owes it extraordinary natural clarity mainly to its exceptional depth and volume, a relatively small watershed and favorable climatological conditions. In 2008, clarity averaged 69.6 feet, far less than the maximum 105 feet of clarity measured in 1968. In the last eight years, the rate of loss of clarity has decreased due to environmental improvements in the watershed. The maximum length of the Lake is 21.2 miles (north to south) and the maximum width is 11.9 miles (east to west). The surface area is 191 square miles (122,200 acres). The shoreline length is 75.1 miles and the encircling state highway is 71.8 miles long.Ī maximum depth of 1,645 feet in Crystal Bay makes Tahoe the second deepest lake in the USA, third deepest in North America and 11 th deepest in the world. The elevation of Carson City, Nevada is 85 feet higher than the deepest part of Lake Tahoe. If the Willis (formerly Sears) Tower, the tallest building in North America, were dropped into Lake Tahoe at its deepest point, the top would still be submerged by 195 feet of water.

The Lake holds about 39 trillion gallons of water, enough to cover the state of California to a depth of 14½ inches.

Fallen leaf lake water temperature