Lake Tahoe is straddling the boundary between California and Nevada. It is situated in the Sierra Nevada in the midst of scenery of great beauty and grandeur, at an altitude of 6,225 ft. It is 22 mi. long and 12 mi. wide, with an area of 192 sq. mi. Lake Tahoe's deepest point at 1,645 ft. makes it the third deepest lake in North America and the tenth deepest in the world. The bottom of the lake is approximately 95 ft. below the level of Carson City, NV. Lake Tahoe is so clear in some places that objects can be seen to depths of 75 ft.. Most of the snow and rain falls directly into the lake or drains through lakeside marshes and meadows that act as water filtering systems. Although we just mentioned the clarity of Lake Tahoe, each sediment particle carries nutrients that stimulate algae growth and could eventually cloud the famous clarity of the lake. Protecting the Lake's water quality is "job one" for the Forest Service at Lake Tahoe. There are plenty of publicly accessible, secluded places close to the waters edge and vast unspoiled wilderness away from the lake, especially to the north and west - the lake is surrounded on most sides by high rocky mountains with peaks well above the treeline, some covered by patches of snow that persist all year. The mountains are a very popular skiing destination during winter.

Approximately two-thirds of the shoreline is in California. The south shore is dominated by the lake's largest city, South Lake Tahoe, California, which adjoins the town of Stateline, Nevada, while Tahoe City, California is located on the lake's northwest shore. Although highways run within sight of the lake shore for much of Tahoe's perimeter, many important parts of the shoreline now lie within state parks or are protected by the United States Forest Service.

During late Spring to early Fall, the lake is popular for water sports and beach activities. The two cities most identified with the Lake Tahoe tourist area are South Lake Tahoe, California and the smaller Stateline, Nevada; smaller centers on the northern shoreline include Tahoe City and Kings Beach.

Boating, the primary activity in Tahoe in the summer, is known worldwide. There are lakefront restaurants all over the lake, most equipped with docks and buoys. There are all sorts of boating events, such as sailboat racing, firework shows over the lake, guided cruises, and more. Lake Tahoe also has its own Coast Guard.

There are hundreds of hiking and mountain biking trails all around the lake. They range in length, difficulty, and popularity. One of the most famous of Tahoe's trails is the Tahoe Rim Trail, a 165 mile (270 km) trail that circumnavigates the lake. Directly to the west of the lake is the Granite Chief Wilderness, which provides great hiking and wilderness camping. Also, to the southwest is the very popular Desolation Wilderness. One of the most popular trailheads is the Eagle Lake Trailhead.

During ski season, thousands of people from all over Nevada and California, including Las Vegas, Los Angeles San Diego and San Francisco, flock to the slopes for some of the best skiing in the world. Lake Tahoe, in addition to its panoramic beauty, is well known for its blizzards.

Gambling is legal on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe.

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