<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Shore length is not a well - defined measure . </Td> </Tr> <P> Lake Tahoe (/ ˈtɑːhoʊ /; Washo: dáʔaw) is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States . Lying at 6,225 ft (1,897 m), it straddles the state line between California and Nevada, west of Carson City . Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America, and at 122,160,280 acre ⋅ ft (150,682,490 dam) trails only the five Great Lakes as the largest by volume in the United States . Its depth is 1,645 ft (501 m), making it the second deepest in the United States after Crater Lake in Oregon (1,945 ft (593 m)). </P> <P> The lake was formed about 2 million years ago as part of the Lake Tahoe Basin, with the modern extent being shaped during the ice ages . It is known for the clarity of its water and the panorama of surrounding mountains on all sides . The area surrounding the lake is also referred to as Lake Tahoe, or simply Tahoe . More than 75% of the lake's watershed is national forest land, comprising the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit of the United States Forest Service . </P> <P> Lake Tahoe is a major tourist attraction in both Nevada and California . It is home to winter sports, summer outdoor recreation, and scenery enjoyed throughout the year . Snow and ski resorts are a significant part of the area's economy and reputation . The Nevada side also offers large casinos, with highways providing year - round access to the entire area . </P>

What is one unique fact about lake tahoe