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THIS DAY IN HISTORY
Lake Tahoe-Heaven on Earth
A Stunning Lake is Discovered and America Heads West
What would it be like to go over a ridge and see a pristine, stunning lake no one (on record) had ever seen before? I can imagine the sense of awe in the explorers as they discovered Lake Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in North America.
The lake was discovered in 1844 as part of the second expedition of explorer John C. Fremont (The Pathfinder). Fremont was credited with opening up the West for exploration and westward movement. One of his associates was the infamous Kit Carson. He created many of the maps used for the settlement of the region. He also personally saw to clearing the land of its Native American people and was involved in slaughtering thousands of indigenous people.
Fremont found gold during his expedition and saw the potential for lucrative westward development. To ensure his find and make a name for himself, he climbed a mountain and planted an American flag. It was later known as Fremont’s Peak. He claimed the Rocky Mountains and the West for the United States, and later utilized his notoriety as an explorer when…