| Lake Tahoe water sports are rightly famous. | | | | Last summer a man from India was reported by |
| There is something there for everyone who | | | | his friends to have drowned in water 700 feet |
| wants a vacation on the California Nevada border | | | | deep after he fell into the lake off a flotation |
| lake. Everything from river rafting the Truckee | | | | device. He was wearing a life vest, which was |
| river to para-sailing for the more adventurous to | | | | later found floating by itself. The case, as is the |
| pedal boats for a more relaxing and quiet | | | | normal practice, was filed as a missing person in |
| afternoon. Of course there is water skiing, wake | | | | case his body ever surfaces. |
| boarding, kayaking, jet-skiing, canoeing, float | | | | A number of factors contribute to the |
| planes, windsurfing and more. | | | | phenomenon of bodies not rising to the surface at |
| But there are hidden depths to Lake Tahoe water | | | | Lake Tahoe, according to the pathology |
| sports with many tales of mafia hoods dumping | | | | department at the University of Nevada, Reno. |
| bodies in the lake back in the 1950s. | | | | When people drown, their lungs fill with water, |
| "That may or may not be true, but we can't be | | | | dropping them into the depths of the lake. |
| sure because we can't go down that far," said | | | | Decomposition starts, and during that process |
| Van Arnum, a former coroner. | | | | gases such as methane, nitrogen and oxygen are |
| The secrets of Lake Tahoe will always be a | | | | produced. |
| mystery, except for those who know for sure | | | | In warmer water, the gases would allow a body |
| they have lost family or friends in drownings, | | | | to rise "like a balloon. The body buoys up to the |
| boating accidents or other fatal mishaps. The | | | | top," A Nevada pathology department |
| conditions within the lake, the second deepest in all | | | | spokesperson said. But since Lake Tahoe is so |
| of North America, ensure that bodies in the Lake | | | | cold, bodies don't decompose, gases don't form, |
| stay forever below the surface. | | | | and the bodies stay submerged. |
| Not long ago locals were mystified when the body | | | | Lake Tahoe has a consistent temperature of 39 |
| of a young woman was found in shallow waters | | | | degrees fahrenheit from the depths of 600 to |
| near Glenbrook, on the Nevada side of the lake. | | | | 700 feet, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. |
| "Usually a person who goes into the lake, they | | | | Its surface temperature varies with the season. |
| don't come back up," said a local undertaker. "I | | | | In August and September the surface |
| just never, never have seen anyone floating," he | | | | temperature runs from 65 to 70 degrees. During |
| said. "They usually go down and that's it." | | | | the winter the surface temperature ranges from |
| "We have had a number of cases over the years | | | | 40 degrees to 50 degrees. |
| where drowning victims, or apparent drowning | | | | So enjoy your Lake Tahoe water sports but take |
| victims, never surfaced again," said one local | | | | care not to become part of the mystery of the |
| sheriffs lieutenant. "They're just gone." | | | | great Lake. |