Independence Lake, body of water
Independence Lake is a natural glacial lake in the Sierra Nevada located in a narrow valley carved by ancient glaciers. The lake extends about 2.4 miles long and roughly half a mile wide, surrounded by forests of pine and fir trees with rocky shores throughout.
The lake has existed for thousands of years and was used by the Washoe people for fishing and water gathering before European settlement. The name likely came in the 1850s, a dam was built in 1879, and the area became protected after Disney's failed ski resort plans in the 1970s.
The lake's name likely originates from Independence Day celebrations in the 1850s, possibly given by entertainer Lola Montez who visited the region. For visitors today, it holds meaning as a quiet retreat where one can experience untouched nature and feel removed from everyday life.
The area is accessible only by rough road requiring high-clearance vehicles, and winter snow makes travel difficult, so visits are best in warmer months. Motorboats are not permitted, but kayaks and small boats are available free of charge during summer.
The lake is home to the rare Lahontan cutthroat trout, with only two wild populations remaining in the world that reproduce naturally in a lake. Some visitors report sightings of a ghostly figure seen looking from a boarded-up building, possibly the spirit of a man who drowned in the 1940s.
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