The majestic Emerald Bay on Lake Tahoe in California looks even more impressive now, because for the first time in decades it has been covered with ice.
The California State Parks Directorate said in a statement: “Emerald Bay has partially frozen due to recent storms. Fannett Island is covered with snow. But don’t plan to walk or skate on thin ice, as it’s not safe.”
Unusual beautiful landscapes, however, please only tourists: precautions have been taken throughout the state, an emergency order has been issued to send all available local and federal resources to help. The mayor of South Lake Tahoe, the most populated city in El Dorado County, activated a virtual emergency operations center by posting it on the city’s website.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that this complex winter storm was caused by an “Atmospheric River” that caused weather chaos throughout California.
Natural phenomena under this name are characterized by areas of high concentration of water vapor in the atmosphere. They carry large amounts of moisture from tropical regions to mid-latitudes and cause heavy rains, storms and floods.
In a statement, meteorologists said: “This powerful storm is expected to cause heavy snowfall in the mountains and gusty winds from the Sierras to the Rocky Mountains.”
Emerald Bay is the only bay on Lake Tahoe. It covers an area of more than 6.2 square kilometers and is located on the territory of Emerald Bay State Park. The local viewing platforms are recognized by some of the best photographers from all over the world.
The bay is also a place where many tourist attractions are collected, which are popular with travelers. One of the most popular is Vikingsholm Castle, a mansion on the shore with 38 rooms, built in the early 1900s.
