North America's largest alpine lake, Tahoe is 22 miles long, 8 to 12 miles wide, and 1,645 feet at its deepest point. It contains enough water to cover the entire state of California to a depth of 14 inches. 

           The lake basin was a gathering spot for the native Washoe Indians, later its heavily timbered slopes became a prime source of lumber. Tahoe blossomed as a resort area as early as the 1870's. Fifty years later skiing was introduced, and roads to the lake were kept open all winter.

  But it wasn't until the late 1950's that the building boom began. Then ski lodges, and gambling casinos on the Nevada side sprang up, turning Tahoe into an all year attraction.