This is a short video of some of the geology in Lake Tahoe that not very many people get to see. This video was captured during a Mission Robotics test dive.
The rounded areas seem to evidence of eddy pools leading me to believe this was once above water. They look very similar to those in the white mountains of NH.
Oh my... those strata! And was that possible bioturbation on the rock face? And little burrows? Or perhaps vents for subterranean gas escape? Not to mention the mineralization and apparent oxidation of some of the exposed rock. More testing needed!
This is super cool. Doesn't seem to be too many critters swimming around once you pass about a buck 50, huh? Although I think I see a sculpin just to the right of that rock pile, at about 1:55. Also appears to be copepods or something like them moving around the rocks, here and there. Another couple of them at ~2:25. Can't wait to see what yall find in the ~500m deep section!
The life we see in the lake definitely varies depending on the depth and also the location. We just posted a video from the 500m section of the lake (the deepest spot) and we did find things that lived there! Check out the video here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-85IjqQ6_ox4.html
No. I'm afraid that isn't possible. The lake formed during a period of geological faulting around 25 million years ago and has been filled to its current depth for approximately 2 million years. At times previous to 2 million years ago, it was between 200 and 500 feet deeper than now.
For the most part, they look rather biological, and specifically botanical, in nature. Possibly pinecones, as mentioned previously, or seed pods, tree bark, bits of branches, long roots, etc. The orange bits you see are mostly likely mollusk shells. The one exception might be the rather large, rounded shape item in the lower center. I'm not 100% certain, but I do believe that is the spool off a fly-fishing rod. Just a guess. 🤷♀️
Thank you. Pinecone looks right. My first thought was some kind of dial or small hand-held siren and I just couldn't get past that. Now I see the more obvious pinecone answer.
![Lake Tahoe Geology [1080p]](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
