397 



Lake Tahoe on Sunken Floor between 

 Faulted Mountains 



Lake Tahoe is an exceedingly interesting lake. A trip may 

 be made by narrow-gauge railroad (about 15 miles) from 

 Truckee through the canyon, or by automobile over a good 

 highway, to Tahoe City, and from here a steamer trip may be 

 made around the lake. In making the trip from Truckee 

 Tinker Knob is passed on the west, one of the culminating peaks 

 of the Sierra Range. Lake Tahoe lies in a structural depression 

 a block of the earth's crust that was dropped down between 

 two mountain ranges. The Sierra Range is here a double range 

 of almost parallel north-south ridges, and Lake Tahoe lies on 

 the depressed floor between the two. This is a case where the 

 bottom fell out between two mountain ranges. Mount Rose, 

 in the Carson Range on the east, rises to a height of 10,800 feet. 

 The crest of the range to the west forms the watershed between 

 the waters that flow to the Pacific and those that pass out upon 

 and disappear in the Great Basin. 



During late Tertiary and early Pleistocene time the waters 

 of Lake Tahoe basin stood at a much higher level than now. 

 This is shown by distinct old beaches or terraces that stand at 

 levels 35 to 40 feet, and up to 100 feet, above the present lake. 

 Such terraces or beaches marking earlier levels of the lake may 

 be observed almost all the way around the lake. The lake is 

 2 1 miles long by 1 2 miles wide at the widest point. The climate 

 is most balmy in the hottest summers, and accommodations for 

 tourists and visitors are abundant. 



Fishing Fine in Truckee River 



Returning to the highway at Truckee, it is claimed that 

 the fishing is fine down Truckee River to Boca and beyond, and 

 camps and hotels offer stopping-places to suit the convenience 

 of guests. This is near the State line and Reno is but a short 

 way ahead. It is said that families are sometimes separated 

 there, so it will perhaps be well to stop on the river and fish! 



