The Tahoe basin, created by geologic faults that caused the Carson Range to rise in the east and the Sierra Nevada Mountains to form in the west.  

Thanks to a natural granite filtering system, Tahoe's water boasts a 99.9-percent purity rating and an average visibility of 75 feet.  

The lake attracts paddlers from all over, and at all skill levels—beginners needn't worry about strong currents, while seasoned adventurers can test their resolve during the cold of winter, since the lake never freezes.  

The sun shines on the Tahoe region an average of 274 days a year, which promises more than a fair share of iridescent displays along the lake's 72-mile shoreline.  

Tahoe's Emerald Bay became an underwater state park in 1994—boats sit on the bay's floor from when they were used to transport materials for a Scandinavian-style castle built by the millionaire heiress Lora Josephine Knight.  

Tahoe offers nearly 200 ski trails spread within the 8,800 acres. At alpine skiing elevations, the annual snowfall ranges from 300 to 500 inches.  

A good portion of Lake Tahoe's 39 trillion gallons of water is lost to evaporation—in fact, 335 million gallons evaporate within a meager 24 hours.