Laurent Pinel of France arrives at the Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, on Monday 9th June 2008
James Manning, left, and Charlotte Allin Right arrive at the Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, on Monday 9th June 2008.
(2008)Three British divers who were swept away in shark infested waters with two others from France and Sweden during a dive off Indonesia have been found safe after managing to swim to a remote beach on an island 25 miles away. The 36-hour ordeal saw them carried to the neighbouring island by strong currents while they waited for their dive boat to return. Fearing their rescue might take days, the dive party began scavenging for shellfish to survive and were forced to use rocks to drive off a komodo dragon - one of the huge, aggressive lizards native to the area that are capable of killing humans.
Komodo - Rinca Island.
After being caught in a rip current the group tried to swim out of danger but became exhausted and tied themselves together with their dive vests. They finally managed to swim to Rinca island after dark on Thursday 5th June night in a last-ditch effort to reach land before they were swept out into the open ocean. One of the party, a French tourist, said he and the four other European divers on a trip with Reefseekers, a UK company, spent two nights on the Indonesian island eating shellfish as they awaited rescue. At the time of the accident, local divers reported the current in the area of Pulau Tawa Besar island to be "very,very strong", leading to questions about the party's choice of dive location.
A Rawa Island resort called Alang’s Rawa overlooking the white sandy beach.
Source: jjtravellingblog.blogspot.com
Laurent Pinel, 31, said that the group survived off mussels and had to fight off a komodo dragon while they were waiting to be spotted in the Komodo national park. "We had nothing to eat. We ate some kind of mussels scraped from the rocks," Pinel said, after reaching a medical clinic on Flores island - a common base for dive charters. "On the beach a komodo dragon came among us yesterday afternoon," he said, describing how the group had pelted the dangerous reptile with rocks to scare it away. “It took my diving hood,” a smiling Elena Neralairen told The Associated Press on Monday, relieved to finally be heading home. He said the divers - three Britons, himself and a Swede - had spent about nine hours adrift at sea after being swept away from their dive boat in a strong current late Thursday afternoon. "If we'd continued [to drift], it would have been the ocean," he said. "We were exhausted. Everyone had cramps."
The group was found before midday yesterday Saturday by national park rangers who took them to Labuanbajo. They had set off from there on Thursday for what was supposed to be a routine day of diving. Pinel said they were in relatively good condition considering their ordeal. Ernest Leandowski, the husband of the British dive master Kathleen Mitchinson, who was leading the dive, first broke news of the rescue. "They have been found, they are alive and are now on their way to get medical assistance. That is all I can say at this stage as I have not yet spoken to my wife." Lewandowski had been with another diving party near where the group went missing, and raised the alarm after finding no sign of his wife's group when he surfaced. The Britons, Mitchinson, Charlotte Allin and James Manning, along with two other divers believed to be from France and Sweden, had been missing since 3pm local time on Thursday.
Charlotte Allin's father, Dave Allin, said yesterday: "We know that they have been found. It is fantastic news. It has been a very long night. I haven't spoken to Charlotte yet and we don't know what their medical condition is - they have been floating out there for two days. We are still waiting for news of how they are." "I gather that they have managed to walk under their own steam which is a good sign," he added. Speaking from the family home in the village of Northam, near Bideford, Devon, he said: "We have all the family over here. There are about 12 of us including the grandparents and we are all celebrating. We have been sitting around waiting for news all night. It is pretty emotional as you can imagine."
Allin's mother, Sue, said: "I didn't believe that she was all right until I heard her voice." Mr Allin said Charlotte and her boyfriend, James Manning, 30, were diving instructors who had been teaching scuba diving in Phi Phi, Thailand, for about two years. He said they would be coming home soon and joked that he would "lock her up" to keep her safe. The Local police chief, Lt Col Buce Helo, said the divers had drifted for more than 12 hours before arriving at the remote Rinca island, about 20 miles south of their dive site. The accident, one of a spate of recent tourist diving deaths around the world, follows an incident last month when a British man and his American partner spent 19 hours adrift off the great barrier reef.
British diver Kathleen Mitchinson, (R) one of five rescued victims, hugs her husband Ernest Lewandowski (L) upon arriving.
Clinging to life: Charlotte Allin pictured by her boyfriend James Manning.
Charlotte Allin, left, Frenchman Lauren Pinel and Swede Helena Naradainen on the beach On Rinja island after spending 9 hours drifting in the sea off Flores, Indonesia
Charlotte Allin and Kathleen Mitchinson on the beach on Rinja Isand
Divers aboard the Reefseekers boat shortly before they went missing
The area where the diving trip took place, near the islands of Tatawa and Komodo, is famous for its rich marine diversity, including sharks, manta rays and sea turtles. But it is also known for its powerful and unpredictable seas. Recommended only for experienced divers, it is in a place where the Indian and Pacific oceans meet, creating currents that converge and separate. Whirlpools and eddies can pull divers downwards.
Rocky Beach on Tatawa Island Komodo archipelago
Charlotte Allin, 24, told Britain’s Daily Mail there were many times she thought she and her boyfriend, James Manning, 30, would not survive. “But I quickly brushed those thoughts from my mind,” said the British tourist, who later told her mother she was in a state of complete shock. “We had to keep our spirits up. I knew that if we lost hope of being found, that would be it.” After being caught in what felt like a rip tide, the five found a log and clung to it, roping each other together. They spent two nights on Rinca before rescuers aboard one of 30 boats searching the waters spotted them waving frantically on the shore.
Timeline of Events
We had a wooden dive boat and spent the early part of the day on a walking trip before starting that day's dive,' says Charlotte, whose family live in Bideford. 'We explored an underwater site called Hanging Garden, then at 3.05pm we went down a second time to explore an area called Manta Corner.' James took pictures with his waterproof camera.
Thursday, 4.10pm: The party surface after 65 minutes, as arranged, 30 yards from the boat but the crew have their backs to the divers and do not see them. 'We blow whistles but still the crew don't respond, so we put up an inflatable 4fthigh orange marker buoy, again to no avail,' says Charlotte.
'We have no cause for concern at that stage. We are sure they will see us and pick us up. But it doesn't happen - the five of us find ourselves being swept further from the boat.
'At 5.15pm we can still see the boat in the distance, but it is impossible for the crew to see us. We decide to swim for land, but the current takes us around the first island we head for.'
6pm: Darkness begins to fall. 'We all agree as we swim together, kept afloat with our dive vests, that we have to make land,' says Charlotte. 'But the currents have a different idea and push us around each island we approach.'
Survivors: Charlotte Allin, Jim Manning and instructor Kathleen Mitchinson.
7pm: 'We see lights of fishing boats but our shouts and whistles fail to attract attention. We are all becoming weak. Then a new problem arises - the cold. While we had been warm as we dived, being exposed from the chest up, with water splashing down inside of our wetsuits, we begin to feel a chill running through our bodies.
'Weakness is going to be our main problem - will we have the strength to make it through the night? I am wondering that myself and I suspect the others are thinking the same.'
7.30pm: 'We have an incredible stroke of luck. A dead tree trunk, about 6ft long, drifts by. We grab it and use it as a buoy to cling on to.
'What is frightening me is the night. I don't want to be out there in the dark, but we all know no one will be able to find us and we just have to hang on to that log. I hook my arm through the back of Jim's wetsuit gear and my other arm is around the log.'
8pm: 'The wind stirs up waves that crash over us. Helena, the Swedish girl, is badly seasick and getting weak and we have to make sure she hangs on to the log. But nobody is crying or grumbling - we just try to keep talking about anything that comes into our minds to keep everyone awake.'
10.45pm: 'The sea becomes calm as the wind drops. By now we have discarded our weight belts, which were dragging us down. But we are suffering from cramp from constantly kicking our flippers, trying to force the log to take us to land.'
Midnight: 'Jim and Kath decide to break away from the log and swim to land, believing they can see the outline of a white beach in the darkness. They are almost dashed against rocks by the surf and Kath has to return to the log. But Jim manages to make it to the beach - which turns out to be nothing but light-coloured large boulders and rocks. He believes the group can get in and eventually manages to help us all in to the beach, particularly Helena who is now pretty weak.'
Friday, 12.52am: 'We're all assembled on the beach, hugging one another, collapsing on to our knees,' says Charlotte. 'We've been in the water for nearly nine hours.'
By sunrise, the group are all bitterly cold after lying in their soaking wetsuits all night in the hope that it would be warmer than taking them off.
'Jim decides to try to find help after Kath tells him she believes we are on Pandaua island, where there will be fishing boats moored off one of the bays,' says Charlotte. In fact they are on a deserted island called Rindja - one of the homes of the Komodo dragon.
Kath tries to accompany Jim because she speaks the local language but as they scale a steep slope he tells her to go back because it is too dangerous.
It is now that he has to use all his training from his days in Iraq and Afghanistan as a member of 59 Independent Commando Squadron RE.
He has taken off his wetsuit and is now in an undervest, shorts and slim rubber diving boots.
8am: He is almost at the top of a cliff when a snake wriggles in front of him, causing him to reel back and almost fall.
10am: He suffers a second shock - knocking back a branch he almost disturbs a huge bee colony. 'If the branch had hit them they would have gone berserk. It terrified me much more than the snake.' There are dried stream beds all around but not a drop of water to be had.
11am: Back on the beach, the other four are desperately trying to make a fire, using a magnifying glass Kath had in her diving gear, but all they manage to make is smoke and no flame. 'The thirst is terrible,' says Charlotte.
'My lips are swollen and white. It is just unbearable and we know we have to try to find water. There was shade from big rocks in the morning but the sun is getting higher and we are losing that shade. There are no trees. The sun is very, very, hot.'
Noon: 'I find a coconut and break it open hoping to find milk, but it is rotten inside. Desperate for food and water, we turn to scooping mussels and other things off the rocks. At least we are getting protein and there are some juicy bits.'
1pm: The party build the letters SOS with huge white rocks on the side of the hill, hoping to attract a boat. 'It is very hard work,' says Charlotte. 'The sun is beating down and the rocks are very heavy, but we have to do it to attract attention.'
2pm: As thirst attacks Charlotte again, Kath tells her: 'Pretend that you have just had a long, cool, icy, drink.' It helps her overcome the craving for water.
4pm:By now Jim has scrambled down cliffs and tried to make his way around the coast by clambering over rocks and swimming, but seems to be getting nowhere. It is dangerous work. Several times he knows he could have been smashed against rocks. And exhaustion is driving him to his knees.
'One thing keeps me going,' he says. 'One phrase, over and over again, "You've got to get help for Char and the others. They are depending on you. You're the scout - do your work".'
At the same time, back at the beach, a Komodo dragon lumbers into view. More than 10ft long, it can easily kill a human with its massive jaws and toxic saliva. In its mouth is the wetsuit Jim left behind when he began his scouting.
The giant lizard almost bites Helena in the head as it snatches at her wetsuit hood, lying beside her. 'We eventually chase it off using stones and Kath pokes at it with a stick,' says Charlotte.
5pm: 'We're desperate on the beach and we know by now we will have to spend another night in this rocky, isolated place, uncertain whether a major search has been launched for us. A plane has passed overhead but it didn't see us. We've also seen boats in the distance, but again our frantic waving, whistling and calling went unheeded. I don't know if Jim is alive or dead.'
5.15pm: On a rocky outcrop around the coast, Jim sees two people on a beach. 'I yell and scream at them but they don't turn around. Finally I realise they are just two rocks that look like people.'
6.45pm: He settles in for the night. He does not know what has happened to Charlotte and the others. He has gone too far to turn back. He just knows he must stay warm, find some strength to carry on looking for help when the next morning breaks. Back at the beach, the four try to sleep and ignore their crippling thirst.
Dawn: On their different parts of the island, the five pray for rain and rescue.
12.30pm: Jim's prayers are answered. A speedboat comes into the bay, heading towards the rock on which he is lying. People on board are waving, cheering. There is Charlotte waving among them. The ordeal is over. German Frank Winkler, who runs another dive club, had worked out where the divers could be, taking account of the current and tides, and his calculation proved right.
Yesterday: Charlotte, Jim and Kath sit in a jungle clearing on an island off Flores. They are cut and bruised. Their throats are scarred from the chafing of their wetsuits. But they are alive.
On Monday Jim and Charlotte will fly home and start looking for work. 'It will be lovely to see Devon again,' says Charlotte. 'I thought of the green hills and the moors when I was in the water. It will be lovely to touch it.'
The ragged coast line of Rindja Island.
The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), also known as the Komodo monitor, is a species of lizard found in the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, and Gili Motang. Amember of the monitor lizard family Varanidae. It is the largest extant species of lizard, growing to a maximum length of 3 metres (10 ft) in rare cases and weighing up to approximately 70 kilograms (150 lb). As a result of their size, these lizards dominate the ecosystems in which they live. Komodo dragons hunt and ambush prey including invertebrates, birds, and mammals. It has been claimed that they have a venomous bite; there are two glands in the lower jaw which secrete several toxic proteins. The biological significance of these proteins is disputed, but the glands have been shown to secrete an anticoagulant. Komodo dragons' group behaviour in hunting is exceptional in the reptile world. The diet of big Komodo dragons mainly consists of Timor deer, though they also eat considerable amounts of carrion. Komodo dragons also occasionally attack humans.
Mating begins between May and August, and the eggs are laid in September; as many as 20 eggs are deposited at a time in an abandoned megapode nest or in a self-dug nesting hole. The eggs are incubated for seven to eight months, hatching in April, when insects are most plentiful. Young Komodo dragons are vulnerable and therefore dwell in trees, safe from predators and cannibalistic adults. They take 8 to 9 years to mature, and are estimated to live up to 30 years. Komodo dragons were first recorded by Western scientists in 1910. Their large size and fearsome reputation make them popular zoo exhibits. In the wild, their range has contracted due to human activities, and they are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. They are protected under Indonesian Law, and Komodo National Park was founded in 1980 to aid protection efforts.
Komodo Dragon Nest Indonesia.
The Komodo dragon was the driving factor for an expedition to Komodo Island by W. Douglas Burden in 1926. After returning with 12 preserved specimens and two live ones, this expedition provided the inspiration for the 1933 movie King Kong. It was also Burden who coined the common name "Komodo dragon" Three of his specimens were stuffed and are still on display in the American Museum of Natural History. The largest verified wild specimen was 3.13 m (10.3 ft) long and weighed 166 kg (366 lb), including its undigested food. Dramatic lowering of sea level during the last glacial period uncovered extensive stretches of continental shelf that the Komodo dragon colonised, becoming isolated in their present island range as sea levels rose afterwards. Recent fossil evidence from Queensland suggests the Komodo dragon actually evolved in Australia, before spreading to Indonesia.
William Douglas BurdenAmerican Museum of Natural History
King Kong (1933) - Full Movie HD
King Kong (1933) - Full Movie HD
The Komodo dragon has a tail as long as its body, as well as about 60 frequently replaced, serrated teeth that can measure up to 2.5 cm (1 in) in length. Its saliva is frequently blood-tinged because its teeth are almost completely covered by gingival tissue that is naturally lacerated during feeding. It also has a long, yellow, deeply forked tongue. Komodo dragon skin is reinforced by armoured scales, which contain tiny bones called osteoderms that function as a sort of natural chain-mail. As with other varanids, Komodo dragons have only a single ear bone, the stapes, for transferring vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the cochlea. This arrangement means they are likely restricted to sounds in the 400 to 2,000 hertz range, compared to humans who hear between 20 and 20,000 hertz. The Komodo dragon can see objects as far away as 300 m (980 ft), but because its retinas only contain cones, it is thought to have poor night vision. It can distinguish colours, but has poor visual discrimination of stationary objects.
A 1926 collecting expedition provided the inspiration for the 1933 movie King Kong. Three of the specimens from this expedition were stuffed and are still on display in the American Museum of Natural History Photo: AMNH
Natural History Museum (New Dinosaur Exhibit) Walking Tour in 4K -- Washington, D.C.
Natural History Museum (New Dinosaur Exhibit) Walking Tour in 4K -- Washington, D.C.
They are capable of running rapidly in brief sprints up to 20 km/h (12 mph), diving up to 4.5 m (15 ft), and climbing trees proficiently when young through use of their strong claws. For shelter, the Komodo dragon digs holes that can measure from 1 to 3 m (3.3 to 9.8 ft) wide with its powerful forelimbs and claws. The Komodo dragon hunts in the afternoon, but stays in the shade during the hottest part of the day. These special resting places, usually located on ridges with cool sea breezes, are marked with droppings and are cleared of vegetation. They serve as strategic locations from which to ambush deer. Komodo dragons have been observed knocking down large pigs and deer with their strong tails. They are able to locate carcasses using their keen sense of smell, which can locate a dead or dying animal from a range of up to 9.5 km (5.9 mi). After eating up to 80% of its body weight in one meal, it drags itself to a sunny location to speed digestion, as the food could rot and poison the dragon if left undigested in its stomach for too long. Because of their slow metabolism, large dragons can survive on as few as 12 meals a year.
Epic Fight Between Two Komodo Dragons
Epic Fight Between Two Komodo Dragons
After digestion, the Komodo dragon regurgitates a mass of horns, hair, and teeth known as the gastric pellet, which is covered in malodorous mucus. After regurgitating the gastric pellet, it rubs its face in the dirt or on bushes to get rid of the mucus, suggesting it does not relish the scent of its own excretions. The largest animals eat first, while the smaller ones follow a hierarchy. The largest male asserts his dominance and the smaller males show their submission by use of body language and rumbling hisses. Dragons of equal size may resort to "wrestling". Losers usually retreat, though they have been known to be killed and eaten by victors. The Komodo dragon's diet is wide-ranging, and includes invertebrates, other reptiles (including smaller Komodo dragons), birds, bird eggs, small mammals, monkeys, wild boar, goats, deer, horses, and water buffalo. Young Komodos will eat insects, eggs, geckos, and small mammals, while adults prefer to hunt large mammals. Occasionally, they attack and bite humans. Sometimes they consume human corpses, digging up bodies from shallow graves. This habit of raiding graves caused the villagers of Komodo to move their graves from sandy to clay ground, and pile rocks on top of them, to deter the lizards.
When Komodo Dragons Attack
When Komodo Dragons Attack
The Komodo dragon may have evolved to feed on the extinct dwarf elephant Stegodon that once lived on Flores, according to evolutionary biologist Jared Diamond. Attacks on humans are rare, but Komodo dragons have been responsible for several human fatalities, in both the wild and in captivity. According to data from Komodo National Park spanning a 38-year period between 1974 and 2012, there were 24 reported attacks on humans, five of them fatal. Most of the victims were local villagers living around the national park. Reports of attacks include:
1974: A visiting Swiss tourist, Baron Rudolf Reding von Bibiregg, who disappeared on Komodo Island, may have been killed and eaten by Komodo dragons.
2001: A Komodo dragon attacked Phil Bronstein, an investigative journalist and former husband of actress Sharon Stone, in the Los Angeles Zoo.
2007: A Komodo dragon killed an 8-year-old boy on Komodo Island.
2009: Muhamad Anwar, a 31-year-old Komodo Island local, was killed by two dragons after he fell from a tree when he was picking sugar apples.
2009: Maen, a national park guide stationed on Rinca Island, was ambushed and bitten by a Komodo dragon which had walked into his office and lay under his desk. Despite suffering some injuries, the guide survived.
May 2017: Lon Lee Alle, a 50-year-old Singaporean tourist (or Loh Lee Aik, said to be 68), was attacked by a Komodo dragon on Komodo Island. The victim survived the attack, but his left leg was severely injured.
November 2017: Yosef Paska, a local construction worker, was attacked on Rinca Island and taken to Labuan Bajo by speedboat for treatment.
Phil Bronstein (born October 4, 1950) is an American journalist and editor. He serves as executive chair of the board for Center for Investigative Reporting in Berkeley, California. He is best known for his work as a war correspondent and investigative journalist. In 1986, he was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his reporting on the fall of Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Later, he held leadership positions with The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Chronicle, and Hearst Newspapers Corporation. In 2001, Bronstein was attacked by a Komodo Dragon at the Los Angeles Zoo. He was on a private tour, and a keeper had invited him into the enclosure. Bronstein was bitten on his bare foot, as the keeper had told him to take off his white shoes and socks, which the keeper stated could excite the Komodo dragon as they were the same color as the white rats the zoo fed the dragon. Although he escaped, Bronstein needed to have several tendons in his foot reattached surgically. The tabloid press has closely followed Bronstein's personal life. He has been married four times. He married actress Sharon Stone on February 14, 1998. They were unable to conceive biological children as Stone suffered from an autoimmune disease, resulting in three miscarriages. They adopted a baby son, Roan Joseph Bronstein later on in 2000. The couple separated in 2003. They completed their divorce on January 29, 2004. At first, Stone and Bronstein shared joint custody of their adopted son, Roan. In 2008, a judge gave Bronstein full custody of their son.
Phil Bronstein and Sharon Stone.
Komodo dragons generally avoid encounters with humans. Juveniles are very shy and will flee quickly into a hideout if a human comes closer than about 100 metres (330 ft). Older animals will also retreat from humans from a shorter distance away. If cornered, they may react aggressively by gaping their mouth, hissing, and swinging their tail. If they are disturbed further, they may attack and bite. Although there are anecdotes of unprovoked Komodo dragons attacking or preying on humans, most of these reports are either not reputable or have subsequently been interpreted as defensive bites. Only a very few cases are truly the result of unprovoked attacks by atypical individuals which lost their fear of humans.
Volcanic activity, earthquakes, loss of habitat, fire, tourism, loss of prey due to poaching, and illegal poaching of the dragons themselves have all contributed to the vulnerable status of the Komodo dragon. Under Appendix I of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), commercial trade of Komodo dragon skins or specimens is illegal. In 2013, the total population of Komodo dragons in the wild was assessed as 3,222 individuals, declining to 3,092 in 2014 and 3,014 in 2015. Populations remained relatively stable on the bigger islands (Komodo and Rinca), but decreased on smaller islands such as Nusa Kode and Gili Motang, likely due to diminishing prey availability. On Padar, a former population of Komodo dragons has recently become extinct, of which the last individuals were seen in 1975. It is widely assumed that the Komodo dragon died out on Padar following a major decline of populations of large ungulate prey, for which poaching was most likely responsible.
A Komodo Dragon swimming at Nusa Kode - Komodo National Park
William Douglas Burden (September 24, 1898 – November 14, 1978), was an American naturalist, filmmaker, and author who co-founded Marineland in Florida. Burden was the first "white man" to find and trap the giant lizards who weighed 350 pounds and were approximately 10 feet long. They also collected 3,000 insect and amphibian specimens. Of the three they captured, two of the Komodo dragons were given to the Bronx Zoo but died soon thereafter and were mounted in the new Hall of Reptiles and Amphibians at the museum. Burden also led expeditions to various tropical islands and the Arctic. In 1927, he wrote a book about the expedition to Komodo Island entitled The Dragon Lizards of Komodo. Burden's chapter "The Komodo Dragon", in his book, Look to the Wilderness, published in 1956, describes the expedition, the habitat, and the behavior of the dragon. In 1960, Burden wrote Book to the Wilderness.
Marineland of Florida Early 1960s
Marineland of Florida Early 1960s
27 Classic Photos of Vacationing in Florida During the 1960s
27 Classic Photos of Vacationing in Florida During the 1960s
Marineland Everything New 2020
Marineland Everything New 2020
The Bronx Zoo in 2020 was limited but fun!
Bronx Zoo New York (2020)
The Bronx Zoo is a zoo located within Bronx Park in the Bronx, New York. It is one of the largest zoos in the United States by area, and the largest metropolitan zoo in the United States by area, comprising 265 acres (107 ha) of park lands and naturalistic habitats separated by the Bronx River. On average, the zoo has 2.15 million visitors each year as of 2009. The Bronx Zoo is world-renowned for its large and diverse animal collection, and its award-winning exhibitions. The zoo is part of an integrated system of four zoos and one aquarium managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and it is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
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Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the U.S., with a maximum depth of 1,645 feet (501 m), trailing Oregon's Crater Lake at 1,949 ft (594 m). Tahoe is the 16th deepest lake in the world, and the fifth deepest in average depth. It is about 22 mi (35 km) long and 12 mi (19 km) wide and has 72 mi (116 km) of shoreline and a surface area of 191 square miles (490 km2). The lake is so large that its surface is noticeably convex due to the curvature of the earth. At lake level the opposing shorelines are below the horizon at its widest parts; by nearly 100 feet (30 m) at its maximum width, and by some 320 feet (98 m) along its length.
The area around Lake Tahoe was previously inhabited by the Washoe Native Americans. Lake Tahoe was the center and heart of Washoe Indian territory, including the upper valleys of the Walker, Carson and Truckee Rivers. Cave Rock is a large rock formation located on the southeastern shore of the lake and considered a sacred site for the Washoe Indians. The Washoe people called Cave Rock deʔek wadapush (Washo for Standing Gray Rock). Part of why the Washoe felt the Cave was sacred was due to "The Lady of the Lake" a rock formation on the side of the Cave which looks like the profile of a woman's face gazing out towards the lake. Washoe ancestors performed religious ceremonies inside the cave. There was a lot of protest from the tribe when a tunnel was blasted through the rock in 1931 for Highway 50.
Washoe Native American.
Cave Rock Tunnel - Lake Tahoe
Cave Rock Lake Tahoe
The Cave Rock Tunnel is a dual bore highway tunnel on U.S. Route 50 (US 50) along the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe approximately seven miles (11.4 km) north of Stateline, in Douglas County, Nevada, United States. It passes through Cave Rock, a volcanic stone formation. To the Washoe Indian Tribe, Cave Rock (Washo: De ek Wadapush) is considered a sacred place and the tribe has placed restrictions on recreational activities in the vicinity of the tunnel. The Washoe tribal leaders were not consulted about the construction of either bore, and were upset about the desecration of their tribal lands. Within the last decade, the Washoe Tribe has had a larger influence on Cave Rock and its historic preservation. In 2007, the Federal Government ruled on a precedent-setting case that has restricted activities around the tunnel, such as rock climbing. The westbound bore is 153 feet (47 m) long and features exposed rock; the eastbound bore features a concrete liner and is 410 feet (120 m) long. The tunnels are an elevation of at approximately 6,360 feet (1,940 m), about 80 feet (24 m) above the level of the lake.
The Truckee River - Martis Camp
Paul-Hamill-Truckee-river-bridge-fall-sunset
Much of the area surrounding Lake Tahoe is devoted to the tourism industry and there are many restaurants, ski slopes, golf courses and casinos catering to visitors. During ski season, thousands of people from all over Nevada and California, including Reno, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Sacramento, flock to the slopes for downhill skiing, Lake Tahoe, in addition to its panoramic beauty, is well known for its blizzards. Other popular activities include parasailing, jet ski rentals, eco-friendly paddle sport rentals and fishing. There are rental locations around Lake Tahoe. Kayaking and stand up paddle boards have also become very popular. Boating is a primary activity in Tahoe in the summer. The lake is home to one of the most prestigious wooden boat shows in the country, the Lake Tahoe Concours d'Elegance, held every August. There are lake front restaurants all over the lake, most equipped with docks and buoys. There are all sorts of boating events, such as sailboat racing, firework shows over the lake, guided cruises, and more.
Soaring over the Magical Blue Waters of Lake Tahoe California
✈️ Breathtaking 4k Flight Around Lake Tahoe California
Tahoe Wooden Boat Show 2019
Tahoe Wooden Boat Show 2019 - Lake Tahoe Concours d'Elegance,
★Lake Tahoe Ski Trip| Heavenly Ski Resort|CALIFORNIA|NEVADA| 2019★ 4K
★Lake Tahoe Ski Trip| Heavenly Ski Resort|CALIFORNIA|NEVADA| 2019★ 4K
SCUBA Diving is popular at Lake Tahoe, with some dive sites offering dramatic drop-offs or wall dives. Diving at Lake Tahoe is considered advanced due to the increased risk of decompression sickness (DCS) while diving at such a high altitude. Fred Rogers became the first person to swim the length of Lake Tahoe in 1955, and Erline Christopherson became the first woman to do so in 1962. Lake Tahoe is home to Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe.
Scuba Diving Exploration of Lake Tahoe, Going Deeper...
Scuba Diving Exploration of Lake Tahoe, Going Deeper...
Scuba Diving Lake Tahoe, Hurricane Bay. Wow! Cool Stuff down there!
Scuba Diving Lake Tahoe, Hurricane Bay. Wow! Cool Stuff down there!
Mysteries of Lake Tahoe
Mysteries of Lake Tahoe
DeepFlight in Lake Tahoe: underwater cliffs exploration with GoPro
DeepFlight in Lake Tahoe: underwater cliffs exploration with GoPro
Call Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe “Station Vacation” and the 18-member crew will quickly tell you that it’s not all fun and games working on the largest alpine lake in North America. Summertime is abuzz with boaters, swimmers and sunbathers enjoying the lake ringed by the towering Sierra Nevada.
The crystal blue waters can lure water-goers into a false sense of security. Unpredictable mountain weather patterns can change rapidly, turning a calm outing on the lake into a rough day on the sea. High winds and eight-foot waves are not uncommon on Lake Tahoe. “I don’t think people realize how dangerous this lake can get in a few minutes,” says Petty Officer 2nd Class Kauakea Colon. “It’s dangerous. You just don’t know what lies beneath the surface. Depending on the weather, it can kill you.”
Stretching 22 miles long and 12 miles wide, the crew has a lot of water to cover. The station responds to about 150 search and rescue cases each summer. “We’re non-stop when the busy season gets here. Memorial Day through Labor Day, you don’t sit down at all,” says Petty Officer 2nd Class Megan Archer. “We’re up from sunrise until midnight, then we go to bed to get our eight hours of rest and we’re up the next day doing the same exact thing again.”
TAHOE CITY, Calif. - Jack Leth, liaison officer for the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Aaron Demucha, a maritime enforcement specialist at Station Lake Tahoe, examine a weather gage Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. The crew conducts search and rescue, law enforcement, and national defense missions, and maintains and operates two 25-foot rapid response boats. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Pamela J. Manns.
The lake and its scenic environs provide many opportunities for motorcyclists to ride both on and off-road. The most popular circuit that goes around the lake runs clockwise and starts in South Lake Tahoe on the California side. Riding north via route 89 allows riders to pull over to the right to admire the views without crossing traffic. Continuing onto highway 28 East, and finally, onto US-50 West will complete the full tour. Doing it in reverse allows experiencing the views from a different perspective. Kingsway Grade (highway 207) is another popular route with local motorcyclists. It is only 11 miles long from South Lake Tahoe to Mottsville and can also be ridden in both directions. Some of the most scenic motorcycling stops and views around the lake : There are numerous hiking and mountain biking trails around the lake. They range widely in length, difficulty and popularity. One of the most famous of Tahoe's trails is the Tahoe Rim Trail a 165-mile (270-km) trail that circumnavigates the lake.
A Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe boat crew and El Dorado Sherriff's board a pleasure craft to ensure passenger and crew safety in Lake Tahoe, Calif., August 21, 2019. Coast Guard Sector San Francisco investigators conducted a week-long operation with local law enforcement to terminate unlicensed and illegal charter boat operations on Lake Tahoe. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Anna Frank/Released)
Harley Davidson chopper ride to Lake Tahoe and back.
Harley Davidson chopper ride to Lake Tahoe and back.
Boots And Jeans Lake Tahoe Motorcycle Ride
Boots And Jeans Lake Tahoe Motorcycle Ride
Lake Tahoe Motorcycle ride 2017
Lake Tahoe Motorcycle ride 2017
Hero7 Moto POV: Dirt biking through Lake Tahoe's forests
Hero7 Moto POV: Dirt biking through Lake Tahoe's forests
Directly to the west of the lake is the Granite Chief Wilderness, which provides great hiking and wilderness camping. Also, to the southwest is the very popular Desolation Wilderness. One of the most popular trailheads used to access these popular destinations is Eagle Lake trailhead, located near Emerald Bay on Tahoe's west shore. The Flume Trail of the east shore is one of Mountain Biking Magazine's Top 10 Trails in the U.S. There are also many paved off-road bicycle paths that meander through communities on all sides of the lake.
Eagle Lake Trail
Leading into the heart of Desolation Wilderness (permit required), the 2 mile round trip moderate Eagle Lake trail offers forest, lake and far reaching views of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra high country. At the Eagle Falls trailhead, obtain your wilderness permit. Head SW up the trail, climbing gently at first, then ascending a steep set of stone steps. Climb the stairs about 5 minutes to the falls and the short loop trail. Cross the high bridge and enjoy the vista back down the canyon to Emerald Bay. To continue on to Eagle Lake, follow the trail gradually uphill another half mile or so until you reach a fork. The right hand trail leads to the lake, resting in a glacial cirque below North Maggies Peak (about 20-25 more minutes, this is a good hike for children). Take a swim in the cold! Eagle Lake waters, or keep going further to reach Velmas, Dicks, and Fontanillis lakes. Trail can be crowded but offers a great workout and good places to picnic near Eagle Lake on big boulders
Eagle Lake and Dicks Pass - Desolation Wilderness Backpacking w/Dad (In 4k)
Eagle Lake and Dicks Pass - Desolation Wilderness Backpacking w/Dad (In 4k)