| Quick Facts: | Lahontan Lake |
|---|---|
| Countries: | USA |
| States: | Nevada & California |
| Lake Type: | Endorheic Pleistocene lake |
| Surface Area: | 9.000 square miles (23.300 sq km) |
| Avg. Depth: | 500 feet (150 meters) |
| Remnants lakes: | Lake Pyramid and Lake Humboldt |
Lahontan Lake was an extinct lake that covered a large area in what is now northwestern Nevada and east central California. At its maximum extent, it covered about 9,000 square miles (23,300 sq km) and was about 500 feet (150 meters) deep. Lahontan was one of two large lakes (the other was Lake Bonneville) in the Great Basin during the Pleistocene Epoch (which ranged from 2,000,000 B.C. to 10,000 B.C.).
Both Lahontan and Bonneville probably evaporated when the humid climate changed to a dry one. The plains left behind are covered with salt and mineral deposits. Lake Pyramid and Lake Humboldt in Nevada are remnants of Lahontan.
