Emerald Bay, on the west shore of Lake Tahoe. The water is about 150 feet deep and has a crystal clear, green-emerald hue. You can clearly see 50 to 70 feet down.

On very calm mornings, the water is so still and clear that it creates a displacement illusion. This makes the bottom appear much closer than it actually is. It’s common for people in kayaks to feel like they are about to scrape against a rock that is actually 20 or 30 feet below them. I experienced this.

There are preserved "ghost trees" standing upright at the bottom of the bay.

Because the water at the bottom stays consistently cold, around 39°F (4°C), it acts like a massive refrigerator.

The bay is home to an underwater state park. Because the water is so cold and deep enough to protect them from surface ice, several historic wooden boats and barges from the early 20th century are perfectly preserved on the bay floor.

Emerald Bay is oligotrophic, meaning it is naturally very low in nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. ​Without high levels of these "fertilizers," algae cannot bloom excessively.

​The rest of Lake Tahoe plunges to a staggering 1,645 feet and has a deep indigo color.