Which lake forms part of the border between California and Nevada?

Lake Tahoe forms part of the border between California and Nevada.

The clear, deep freshwater lake lies in the Sierra Nevada, with California occupying its western and southern shores and Nevada occupying much of the eastern shore. The state boundary runs through the lake, making it a shared geographic feature rather than a lake wholly contained in one state.

Lake Tahoe formed during the ice ages through a combination of faulting and glacial erosion. Its basin is surrounded by mountains, and the lake is renowned for unusually clear water, though clarity has varied over time because of ecological changes and human development.

The lake’s maximum depth is about 501 metres, making it the second-deepest lake in the United States after Crater Lake. Its only surface outlet is the Truckee River, which flows northeast into Nevada and eventually toward Pyramid Lake.