1. The Scoop on the History of Lake
Tahoe
Allyssa Little
Summer 2013
GEL 103-01
Professor Lawler

2. Geology of Lake Tahoe
• The Lake tahoe basin is considered to be
anywhere around the lake that you could see
the lake. (Bowl shape)
• The Lake Tahoe basin was formed by geologic
block faulting (normal).
• A geologic block fault is a fracture in the
Earth's crust causing chunks of land to move
up or down.
• Formed about 2-3 million years ago

3. Geology of Lake Tahoe Cont.
• Snow, rain and streams eventually filled the
lowered section of land which made the
ancestral Lake Tahoe
• Modern Lake Tahoe was shaped by glaciers
moving and melting during the Great Ice Age
• Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the
United States, with its lowest point being
lower in sea level than Carson City NV
• It is the tenth deepest in the world

4. Rocks found in the Lake Tahoe Basin
This is Granite. The main
type of rock found in the
basin.
This is an igneous rock. The
small rocks were formed
when the glacier was moving
through breaking off parts of
the mountains.
This is the most common
type of granite you will see.
Grey/White with Black spots.

5. Rocks found in the Lake Tahoe Basin
This is granite an igneous rock.
Although granite is igneous by
nature, it can also be
metamorphic. The rock on the
left.
Collections of minerals began
to grow in magma and
continued to develop as the
magma quickly cooled. Making
it metamorphic.
When on trails in the area, you
will be able to see the
differences in these types of
rocks.

6. Rocks found in the Lake Tahoe Basin
This is granite as well, an igneous
rock.
There is more color in this rock
because of a couple possible reasons:
• High levels of iodine in the
creek beds
• When the water runs over
the rock and the sun
hits it, greens and
yellows even creep out.
Lake Tahoe is a beautiful and
magical geological place.

7. Animals in the Lake Tahoe Basin
This is a bald eagle, a bird of prey.
The bald eagle lives in Lake Tahoe as
well as many other parts of the country.
They like to live by water.
The bald eagle’s diet mainly consists of
fish. Swooping down and catching the
fish in water.
There are two sub species of the bald
eagle.
The Bald Eagle is the National Animal
and National Bird of the USA.

8. Animals in the Lake Tahoe Basin
This is the Raccoon. The raccoon is
native to North America.
Raccoons are very prominent critters in
Lake Tahoe.
The original habitats of the raccoon
were mainly deciduous and mixed
forests; however, they are very
adaptable and can live in much harsher
climates.
They are survivors probably because of
their excellent ability to scavenge. My
trash is constantly being eaten by a
raccoon.

9. A plant from the Lake Tahoe Basin
This is the Shasta Daisy. The
scientific name is Leucanthemum
superbum.
This daisy is named after Lake
Shasta because the petals were
the color of the snow.
This plant is a flowering perennial
plant meaning it has flowers and it
comes back every year.
This plant grows incredibly well in
Lake Tahoe. They are study plants
that can take the cold more than
most.

10. References
• Bald Eagle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia. Retrieved August 4, 2013, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bald_Eagle
• Facts about Lake Tahoe.. (n.d.). Lake Tahoe Data Clearinghouse. Retrieved
August 4, 2013, from http://tahoe.usgs.gov/facts.html
• Lake Tahoe Beauty...fauna, rocks, and minerals! | Home Grown HubHome
Grown Hub. (n.d.). Home | Home Grown HubHome Grown Hub |
building learning opportunities. Retrieved August 4, 2013, from
http://homegrownhub.org/2012/07/lake-tahoe-beauty-fauna-rocks-
and-minerals/

11. References
• Leucanthemum x superbum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia. Retrieved August 4, 2013, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucanthemum_x_superbum
• Monroe, J. S. (2012). The Changing earth: exploring geology and evolution(6. ed.).
Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning-Wadsworth.
• Raccoon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia. Retrieved August 4, 2013, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raccoon