My "Big Blue" - Lake Tahoe Trivia Quiz

Answer: Casinos

While there are 11 casinos on the Nevada side of the lake (six on the south shore and five on the north), the largest and most well-known clubs are located in Stateline, NV, adjacent to South Lake Tahoe. Driving on Highway 50 eastbound from California into Nevada, you would first see Harvey's Resort Hotel and Casino on the left, and Harrah's Resort on the right. Further on the left is the Horizon Resort, with the MontBleu (formally Caesar's Tahoe) across the highway on the right. All four offer world-class amenities in their casinos as well as their high-rise hotels, each having spectacular views of the lake.

(Author's note) I had the opportunity to work at Harvey's for 15 years, and it was a wonderful experience. Please say hello to all my friends the next time you drop in, and..good luck!

Answer: Heavenly Valley (Mountain)

With approximately 4,800 acres (over 1,500 suitable for skiing) and a peak elevation of 10,067 feet, Heavenly is California's largest ski resort (by area) as well as Tahoe's highest. The resort receives an average of 360 inches of snow yearly and offers 30 lifts servicing 95 runs.

The lifts include the Heavenly Tram and the newer Heavenly Gondola, which can reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour. Both provide guests with panoramic views of the lake and the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Answer: Lake Bigler

The first white explorer to discover the lake was John C. Fremont, who in 1844 named the lake "Bonpland", after a French botanist. However, it was W.M. Eddy, the Surveyor General of California, who suggested "Lake Bigler" in 1853 in honor of the state's current governor, John Bigler.

Although the name change was controversial (due to questions regarding Bigler's personal and political ethics as well as his loyalty to the Union), "Lake Bigler" became the official name for the lake in many maps and publications. Wanting a more authentic sounding name, the U.S. Department of the Interior suggested "Tahoe" (derived from the Washoe Indian word da'aw, believed to mean "lake" or "high water") in 1862. Both versions were used to describe the lake for quite some time, with "Tahoe" becoming the official name in 1945.

Answer: Mount Tallac

Mt. Tallac's (pronounced tuh-LAK) snow-cross is one of Tahoe's most famous landmarks, seen not only in numerous postcards and publications, but also in the background during the opening credits of television's long-running 60's western "Bonanza". The tallest of the immediate peaks surrounding the lake (9,735 feet elevation), Tallac is very popular with hikers and cross-country skiers.

A trail from Fallen Leaf Lake to the summit is approximately five miles and has a National Forest Service rating of "strenuous", but, speaking from experience, the view is well worth the climb.

Answer: one-third

Maps drawn in the mid-1800's showed the lake to be either entirely in the Utah Territory (now Nevada), or two-thirds in the Territory and one-third in California, the very opposite of today's border division. After Nevada entered the Union in 1864, legislation between the two states permanently defined the border, placing approximately two-thirds of the shoreline on the California side.

Answer: Emerald Bay

The Emerald Bay State Park, located on Tahoe's southwestern California side, can be reached by driving north on Highway 89 from South Lake Tahoe, or south from Tahoe City. However, many visitors will board either the Tahoe Queen (sailing from South Lake Tahoe) or the Dixie (sailing from Zephyr Cove, NV.), which are two full-service paddle-wheelers that offer day cruises to the Bay, or evening dinner/dance cruises. Once there, visitors will see Eagle Falls and Vikingsholm Castle, a 38-room Scandinavian-type mansion built in 1929 by Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight.

A tea house of similar design can be seen on Fannette Island (Lake Tahoe's only island), just off the shoreline from Vikingsholm. Emerald Bay (including Vikingsholm and Fannette Island) was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1969.

Answer: Second

Tahoe is second only to Crater Lake, located in Oregon, which has a maximum depth of 1,949 feet, or 594 meters. Tahoe is listed as 16th in world rankings, and 5th deepest in terms of average depth. With a 191 square mile surface area and 72 miles of shoreline, Tahoe is also recognized as the largest Alpine lake in the United States.

Answer: Lahontan Cutthroat

Scientists believe that years of over-fishing, government mismanagement, and the introduction of the Rainbow and Lake trout species were the primary causes that led to the Lahontan Cutthroat extinction in the 30's and 40's from not only Tahoe, but Reno's Pyramid Lake as well. Semi-successful efforts to restock the Lahonton (which is also Nevada's state fish) have taken effect in Pyramid Lake, but the sad fact remains that, with the possible exception of a very small number of remnants, the species no longer exists in Lake Tahoe's waters.

Answer: Mark Twain

While it is true that Twain was prone to exaggeration at times, and while this particular incident has never been verified or confirmed as actual fact, it is well-documented and described by the author in Chapter 23 of "Roughing It" (1872). Interestingly enough, although Twain loved the lake and its surrounding wilderness, he was one of the most vocal opponents against its name change to "Tahoe", as his opinions of certain Indian tribes in the area were admittedly less than favorable. Twain even went on record claiming the word "Tahoe" actually meant "grasshopper soup", and obviously would not be appropriate for a lake so beautiful (even though, if "Roughing It" is accurate, he seemed to have no problem burning down half of its shoreline).

Answer: The Cal Neva Lodge and Casino

At the Cal Neva, the California/Nevada state line actually divides not only the swimming pool, but the main lodge as well. Located on the north shore of Tahoe in Crystal Bay, the Cal Neva was built in 1926 and claimed Frank Sinatra as one of its owners from 1960 to 1963. Sinatra had the Cal Neva's famous "Celebrity Showroom" built during his tenure, which played host to President John Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, and of course, fellow members of Sinatra's "Rat Pack".

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