Lake Tahoe was formed approximately 3.7 million years ago through faulting and volcanic activity. It contains various rock formations like granite and metamorphic rocks. Animals that inhabit the area include Jeffrey pine trees, coyotes, black bears, and others. Coyotes have adapted to live near humans and hunt small animals. Black bears can weigh over 450 pounds and consume over 20,000 calories daily. The geology of the lake shows the processes of igneous rock formation and metamorphism of older rock layers over time.

1. Lake Tahoe
Fatima Dominguez

2. Introduction
The purpose of this presentation is to provide as much information as possible about the
beautiful Lake Tahoe and its surroundings. This town is able to sustain and provide for
more than 65,000 people who live here. In this presentation we will learn about the
formation and history of Lake Tahoe, the type of rocks, and the animals we encounter on a
daily basis.

3. History
● What many of us call home now, was
formed through faulting of Earth’s crust,
volcanic and glaciation. Which happened
approximately 3.7 million years ago which
was during the Pliocene epoch era.
● Approximately 2 million years ago
modern Lake Tahoe was beginning to
form, which follow with the eruption of
volcanic basalt and latite lava flows.
● 1 million year ago or so, during
the Pleistocene and Early
Holocene glaciation know as the
Ice age, ice caps covered the
Sierra Nevada with large valley
glaciers that scourded out the
granitic bedrock (Hopson, n.d.)

4. Jeffrey Pines (Pinus Jeffreyi)
● Jeffrey Pines can live for more than 500
years
● Can tolerate poor soil, altitude, heavy snow
load.
● This trees were named after the Scottish
botanist John (1826-1854). This man was
assign to find exotic species of North
America by the Royal Botanic. (Manninen,
Jared. 2019).

5. Jeffrey Pines
Mature Jeffrey Pines can grow to heights
of 170 feet or more, although the typical
range is closer to 80-130 feet
Pine needles provide the tree with another
layer of fire protection, preventing embers
from reaching and damaging the actual
buds.
The color and pattern of Jeffrey Pine bark
can vary to a degree, but generally it is
reddish-brown, has deep grooves or
furrows, and appears puzzle-like in
shape.(Manninen, Jared. 2019).

6. Coyotes
● Coyotes began to evolve about 43 million
years ago when its ancestors, the
caniforms diverged from the feliforms.
● Genetic studies suggest hybrids are 65%
coyotes, 10% dogs, 25% wolfs.
● Characteristics inherited from dogs help
them tolerate noise, and some coyotes
have even learned to look both ways
before they cross roads. (Meachen &
Samuels)

7. Coyotes
They have adapted well to living on abandoned
farmland, vacant lots, cemeteries, and roadside
ditches where they have frequent access to
roadkill.
Hunt at night, coyotes will hunt small animals
if they are alone, if traveling in groups they will
hunt anything (Meachen & Samuels).
Most adults weigh between 22 to 25 pounds on
the average.
● Coyotes breed mainly during
January, February, and March. The
gestation period is about 60-63
days. Young are born March
through May (“Avoiding
wildlife”).

8. Black Bears
● There are an estimated 25,000 to
35,000 Black Bears in California.
● Black Bears range in color from
blond to black, with cinnamon
brown being the most common
color.
● Male adult can weigh more than
450 pounds and female can
weight 350 (“Black Bear”).

9. Black Bears
● Black Bears are primarily nocturnal, with
occasional daytime forays, usually solitary
except females with cubs.
● Black bears may range 15 miles or more.
Excellent climber.
● Consume more than 20,000 calories a day.
● Population of Black Bears is large enough to
sustain a hunt.
● Can live for more than 30 years.

10. Igneous Granite
● Granite rocks are the most common rocks
in Lake Tahoe. They can be found almost
anywhere in the mountains, behind your
house.
● Granite rocks are formed when there the
rock that is melting is finally cooling and
can create any shape depending of where
it is.
● This rock can be different colors as well,
while hiking I notice that there was more
black and white, but at the top of
Heavenly I notice some red ones.

11. Metamorphic Rocks
● Metamorphic rocks are the second most
seen in Lake Tahoe.
● Metamorphic rocks are formed when
there is too much pressure going on and
when heat is being involved.
● The process of metamorphism does not
melt the rocks, but instead transforms
them into denser, more compact rocks
(USGS).

12. Law of Super Position
● The law of super position implies
that that each layer of soil is younger
than the one that's below it, and each
layer of soil is older than the one that
is above it.
● This will mean that its unconformity
since its separating two main rocks
attack to each other.

13. References
Agriculture. (n.d.). Retrieved June 11, 2019, from
https://www.edcgov.us/Government/ag/pages/coyotes.aspx
Black Bear. (n.d.). Retrieved June 14, 2019, from http://www.ndow.org/Species/F
urbearer/Black_Bear/
Coyote (Canis latrans) Evolution. (2017, March 02). Retrieved June 11, 2019, from
https://markgelbart.wordpress.com/2017/03/02/coyote-canis-latrans-evolution
Hopson, Forrest. (2012, August 12). Travel in Geology: Lake Tahoe Jewel of the Sierra
Nevada. Retrieved June 10, 2019. From https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/travels-
geology-lake-tahoe-jewel-sierra-nevada#ab

14. References
Manninen, Jared. (2018, January 12) Jeffrey Pine( Pinus Jeffreyi). Retrieved June 10,
2019. From https://tahoetrailguide.com/jeffrey-pine-pinus-jeffreyi/
Unconformities. (n.d.). Retrieved June 15, 2019, from http://www.indiana.edu/~
geol105b/images/gaia_ chapter_6/unconformities.htm
USGS(n.d.). Retrieved June 15, 2019, from https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-are-
metamorphic-rocks-0?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products