Pyramid Lake

Pyramid Lake is an endorheic lake located in northwestern Nevada, and is the largest remnant of ancient Lake Lahontan. It is wholly within the Pyramid Lake Paiute Indian Reservation. Fed by the Truckee River (the outlet of Lake Tahoe), water leaves Pyramid Lake by evaporation or sub-surface seepage only. Surface area is approximately 117,400 acres (47,510 hectares), which is about 10% of the area of the Great Salt Lake, but it has about 25% more volume. Pyramid Lake is about 1/6th as saline as the sea.

Major fish species include the Cui-ui lakesucker which is endemic to Pyramid Lake, and Lahontan Cutthroat Trout. The former is endangered, and the latter is threatened. Both species were of critical importance to the Paiute people in pre-contact times. As they are both obligate freshwater spawners, they rely on sufficient inflow to allow them to run up the Trukee river to spawn otherwise their eggs will not hatch. Due to diversions for irrigation purposes sufficient inflow for spawning has become rare in modern times, and fish populations are sustained by several tribally-run fish hatcheries.

The areas surrounding Pyramid Lake boast some impressive tufa formations, the largest of which is Anaho Island. Anaho Island is home to a large colony of American White Pelicans, and access is highly restricted. Access to the Needles, another spectacular tufa formation at the northern end of the lake has also been restricted due to vandalism by Burning Man attendees.

Pyramid Lake, New York is in the Adirondack Mountains near Bear Mountain. Once a thriving logging camp, it is currently a catholic retreat center.