Population: about 14,000 as of 2000 censusPrimary communities: Tahoe City, Kings Beach, TahomaNearest Ski Areas: Northstar-at-Tahoe, Homewood Mountain Resort, Alpine Meadows Ski Area, Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area****andamp;#8232;Stunning views of Big Blue set North Lake Tahoe apart, and locals never tire of glimpses of the lake they love. The deep cobalt blue of Lake Tahoe is seen in almost every aspect of living and playing on the North and West shores.Take a turn down Lakeview Run at Alpine Meadows and youll see its brillancy, catch a glimpse of the basin’s blue background from the heights of Squaw or Northstar, or attack the powder on the face at Homewood Mountain Resort and you will feel like youre skiing right into the depths of the lake.Views of Tahoe are highlighted in the plethora of restaurants circling the north end of the lake, while a shopping stroll in Kings Beach or Tahoe City brings you right to the beach. Tahoes endless wonder brought its first tourists here in the 1870s, San Francisco elite who took the narrow gauge railway from Truckee to Tahoe City right out to a large pier where they boarded the S.S. Tahoe for destinations around the lake. The lakes attractiveness brings continual upgrades to the area, such as the planned village at the base of Homewood Mountain Resort, or the new Village at Northstar. The lake’s magic enchants many who came to ski for a season, and ended up building a lifetime here. Those diehard locals are the ones who cheerfully tackle 10-foot snowdrifts in their driveways at 5 a.m. just so they can catch the first tracks on slopes.The incredible playground that is North Lake Tahoe skiing, snowmobiling, shopping, dining, partying, snowshoeing, ice skating, even wintertime fishing is ever enriched by what Mark Twain called the fairest sight the whole earth can afford.

andamp;#8232;”Not only is Tahoe City an amazing place for both resort and backcountry skiing, but it is home to the most beautiful lake in the world. I can’t imagine living anywhere else.” — Brad Holmes, professional skier, old-school local legend in the ski industry

Maximum Elevation: 6,229 feetLength: 22 milesWidth: 12 milesMaximum Depth: 1,645 feetAverage Depth: 989 feetShoreline: 72 milesSurface Area: 193 sq. mi. or 122,200 acresVolume: 39 trillion gallons or 122 million acre feet of waterSurface Water Temperatures: Maximum – 68 degrees FMinimum – 41 degrees FTemperatures at 200 feet: Maximum – 47 degrees FMinimum – 41 degrees F