Fannette Island, Lake Tahoe, California, USA

© Rachid Dahnoun/Tandem Stills + Motio

Fannette Island, Lake Tahoe

Tucked into a tiny bay of a grand alpine lake is Fannette Island, the only island in Lake Tahoe. The massive lake lies in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in the western US, at an altitude of 1,897 metres, straddling the state line between California to the west and Nevada to the east. Fannette Island is in Emerald Bay, on the California side, which is connected to the lake by the narrow inlet, seen near the top of this image.

Lake Tahoe is known as a mecca for boaters and skiers, and even gamblers who are attracted to the several casinos found on its shores. It is known for its cold, clear alpine water which, even in winter, never freezes. The largest alpine lake in North America, Tahoe rivals even the Great Lakes by volume because it is so deep.

Ice-Age glaciers carved out Emerald Bay and tiny Fannette Island. A short hike to the top, 46 metres above the water, will take you to the ruins of an old stone building called the Tea House, constructed in the 1920s by the former owner of the island, as well as a nearby estate on Emerald Bay called Vikingsholm, which is now owned by the state and is a popular feature of Emerald Bay State Park.