How was Lake Tahoe formed?

Although it is commonly believed that Lake Tahoe was formed by the collapse of a volcanic crater, the Basin was actually formed by the rise and fall of the landscape due to faulting. About 24 million years ago the Sierra Nevada block was formed by tremendous uplifting. read more

The lake was formed about 2 million years ago as part of the Lake Tahoe Basin, with the modern extent being shaped during the ice ages. It is known for the clarity of its water and the panorama of surrounding mountains on all sides. read more

A Brief History of the Lake Tahoe Geology: PART I: Creation of the Sierra Rock: The geologic history of Lake Tahoe began nearly 400 million years ago when a shallow sea covered the area that is now the Sierra Nevada Mountains. read more