What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor
Go to: Previous Article Next Article
Lake Tahoe is the gem of the Sierra Nevada at any occasion of the year but particularly in the winter. Sitting astride the California-Nevada state line about fifty miles northeast of Sacramento and less than fifteen miles southwest of Carson City. Easily accessible via U.S. Highway 50, Lake Tahoe has lots of vacation rentals available throughout the year but the region is particularly known as leading ski vacation country.
Like the Sierra Nevada Mountains themselves, Lake Tahoe is relatively young, geologically speaking. The Tahoe basin formed about two million years ago when a small tectonic plate between the Sierra Nevada and the Carson Range dropped, forming what geologists call a graben. After this, the eruption of a now extinct volcano formed a natural dam on the north side. Over the next million years, a series of glaciers advanced and retreated, forming Lake Tahoe as we know it today.
At an elevation of more than 6000 feet, it is the highest alpine lake in the U.S., and second only to Oregon's Crater Lake in terms of depth. Fed by mountain streams, it is the supply of the Truckee River, its sole channel which also delivers excellent opportunities for fly fishing and white water rafting. Make a reservation ahead of time to book a quaint cabin rental with direct entrance or a view to the lake.
The earliest human inhabitants of the region were Waashiu Indians, who gave Lake Tahoe its name. Nineteenth Century John Fremont was most likely the first European to see Lake Tahoe in 1844. Curiously, the lake was originally named for John Bigler, who was the governor of California from 1852 to 1856. Although the lake was renamed Tahoe by the Department of the Interior under Abraham Lincoln, the name "Lake Bigler" stuck until after the Second World War.
As you might imagine, the Lake Tahoe vicinity is diverse in history as well as recreational possibilities such as fishing, skiing, camping and hiking. Having been both a national park and a resort for nearly 150 years, the Lake Tahoe region has a fair number of historic mansions as well as old mining and logging camps and of course, close by Carson City, where you can get a taste of what the Wild West was like back in the day. In fact, steam power is thriving and well in the region. An old fashioned paddle boat still skims the waters of Lake Tahoe, and the Truckee & Western Railroad provides rides on an authentic 1870 vintage steam train.
For winter sports enthusiasts, Lake Tahoe is home to no fewer than twelve major ski resorts, which are generally operational between late November until early April. Most of these are situated on the lake's northern edge near Truckee. However, Kirkwood Mountain Resort, located in close proximity to the town of South Lake Tahoe, receives the largest snowfall of any ski areas in the region which makes for terrific romantic getaways.
For the kids and non-skiers, there are a number of sledding facilities, many of which are free to the public and even offer rope tows up the hills. There are also a plethora of trails for those who prefer cross country skiing and snowshoeing.
Article Source: Articlelogy.com
- Credit Cards A big selection of Cards in all flavors: Bad Credit Cards, Secured Cards, Prepaid Cards, Credit Cards for Canada, Low Interest Cards, etc -
Word Count: 572
Reduce Your Debts Without Bankruptcy. See How Much You Can Save. Free Debt Analysis
