Lake Pyramid

About Lake Pyramid

Pyramid Lake is a true natural wonder and one of the oldest salt lakes in the United States, an ancient lake that covered most of northern Nevada at the end of the last ice age. Pyramid Lake is the lake at the ends of the rivers, meaning it has no drains, and Pyramid Lake is only the second largest remaining salt lake in North America after Lake Tahoe, covering an area of 117,400 hectares.

The water that flows into the lake comes from the Truckee River, the outlet of Lake Tahoe, and the mineral salt inflows are concentrated over time and retained in the canals. The water leaves the lake through evaporation, but in a desert environment the evaporation rate is high.

The Pyramid Lake takes its name from the interesting tuff formations that can be found on the shore of the lake. Tufas are large deposits of calcium carbonate that form unusual shapes, and Pyramid Lake is one of the largest deposits of tufa in the United States and the second largest in North America.

One of the most famous tuff stones is located on Pyramid Island on the eastern shore of the lake, and the largest tuff is the Stone Mother, which is located on the eastern shore near the lake. This is a national wildlife reserve, home to large shoals of pelicans and many bird species.

According to legend, she was the mother of all people other than the Indians, but because she did not want to stop fighting, her husband, father and children were divided into different tribes.

She was so tired of crying that she turned to stone and created the pyramid lake, which lay in the lake until her death and in which she sat her whole life.

The lake is controlled by the Paiute Indians, but is open to the public for fishing and recreation. Camping, fishing, boating and hiking are allowed, but permission is required. We encourage you to respect the Paiutes and even to obtain a permit if you stay only one afternoon.

The Pyramid Lake is home to several fish species, one of which is unique to the lake and two others are threatened with extinction. The Paiute maintain a local fish brood, in which Lahontan trout are farmed, as well as a small number of other species.

Cui Cui is an endemic fish and therefore cannot be caught, but the larvae can spread to other parts of the lake, such as the Great Basin. Other species include Lahontan trout and a small number of other species, some of which are threatened.

The fishing season runs from the beginning of October to the end of May every year and since 1986 the annual event has attracted more than 50,000 participants. Near Black Rock City, the annual Burning Man Festival takes place at the end of the summer.

The festival is supported by a camp, and people come from all over the city, and the name, which describes the ritual burning of large wooden paintings, is derived from the rituals of burning.

With more than 117,000 hectares of water, it is the largest lake in the desert, where temperatures soar in summer and are cool in winter. For almost a month, the whole area is full of experimentation and community ingenuity.

Pyramid Lake is a recognized program of the U.S. National Park Service and the only side road in the U.S. that is entirely located in a tribal reserve. We spent some time at the Pyramid Lake to learn more about the ancient lake and why the locals consider it sacred.

Visitors can buy tents, boats and fishing licenses in the center and take plenty of water with them when exploring the desert landscape.