Three lakes across California’s Central Valley

Three lakes across California’s Central Valley Today’s Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features a view of California’s Central Valley, including Lake Tahoe, Walker Lake, and Mono Lake. 

Snow can be seen covering the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada, which stand out against the warmer, lower valleys of the Great Basin desert.From lakes in Northern California, including Lake Shasta and Lake Tahoe, to Southern California lakes that beat the summer heat, like Silverhead and Big Bear Lake, a great body of water is easy to reach from all of California’s major cities. The numerous reservoirs and freshwater lakes of California support a wide range of recreation.

Lake Tahoe, which is located on the state line of California and Nevada, 

is the largest alpine lake in North America. With a depth of 1,645 feet, the lake is the second deepest lake in the United States.

Mono Lake is on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada, while Walker Lake is farther into the Great Basin.

According to NASA, what is interesting about this photo is that all three lakes are different colors, which can be partially attributed to varying water depths.

The image was captured on December 3, 2020 by an astronaut onboard the International Space Station.

Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory 

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By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer