10 terrific facts about Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe holds a special place in our hearts as it was where we were engaged. The crystal clear water and peaceful surrounds made it the perfect spot for this special moment. Our sunglasses with wooden arms and mirrored lenses remind us of the reflective lake with its surrounding forest, so we thought it was fitting to name a range after this beautiful location. 

Here are some interesting facts about Lake Tahoe:

• The lake is over 2 million years old - it was formed during the Ice Age when a massive glacier carved out a deep valley in the Sierra Nevada mountains 

• Its name is derived from “Da ow a ga” which translates to “edge of the lake” - words from the Washoe tribe who are the indigenous people of Lake Tahoe

• The lake is deeper than the Empire State Building is tall. This means that it even though it can be super chilly, it never completely freezes over. This also makes it the second deepest lake in the USA and the largest freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada mountains

• The water is 99.99% pure, which is cleaner than most commercially available drinking water

• It gets its amazing colour because on a clear day, the lake absorbs red light on the colour spectrum, leaving the blue light for us to see

• Jeffrey pines are the main tree planted in the forest and some of the beers brewed here definitely taste piney

• Lake Tahoe was home to the 1960 Winter Olympics, and, although it had been a popular Summer holiday spot for many years, this put it on the map as a Winter destination

• Mark Twain set fire to the forest by leaving his campfire unattended. Thankfully it burned itself out

• There is a giant bear sculpture on the North shore that is made entirely out of pennies

• The water is so glassy that NASA uses satellites to measure the lake's clarity from space

Lake Tahoe is certainly an interesting place to visit at any time of the year, so purchase a pair of our Tahoe sunglasses, go for a hike to a nearby lake and it will almost feel like you’re there!