Overland Lake, Nevada
Encyclopedia
Tarn (lake)
A tarn is a mountain lake or pool, formed in a cirque excavated by a glacier. A moraine may form a natural dam below a tarn. A corrie may be called a cirque.The word is derived from the Old Norse word tjörn meaning pond...
in the Ruby Mountains
Ruby Mountains
The Ruby Mountains comprise one of the many mountain ranges of the Great Basin in the western United States. They are the predominant range in Elko County, in the northeastern section of the state of Nevada. To the north is Secret Pass and the East Humboldt Range, and from there the Rubies run...
of Elko County
Elko County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 45,291 people, 15,638 households, and 11,493 families residing in the county. The population density was 3/sq mi . There were 18,456 housing units at an average density of 1/sq mi...
in the northeastern part of the state of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. It is located at the head of Overland Canyon at approximately 40°27.6'N and 115°27.4'W, and at an elevation of 9,450 feet (2,880 meters). It has an area of approximately 15 acres (6.1 hectares), and a depth of up to 55 feet (17 m). The Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail
Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail
right|Location of the Ruby Crest Trail within Nevada.right|thumb|Overland Lakeright|thumb|North Furlong Lakeright|thumb|Lamoille Lake and Dollar Lakes...
runs along the eastern shore of the lake.
Overland Lake is the principal source of Overland Creek, which after exiting the mountains flows into Ruby Valley
Ruby Valley
Ruby Valley is a large basin located in south-central Elko and northern White Pine Counties in the northeastern section of the state of Nevada in the western United States. From Secret Pass it runs south-southwest for approximately 60 miles to Overland Pass...
. It was originally named Marian Lake by geologist Clarence King
Clarence King
Clarence R. King was an American geologist, mountaineer, and art critic. First director of the United States Geological Survey, from 1879 to 1881, King was noted for his exploration of the Sierra Nevada. He was born in Newport, Rhode Island.-Career:...
, after his sister, and was the subject of several famous paintings and photographs. This name, however, was lost, and the name of the lake became associated with the Overland Mail and Stage Route, which passed nearby.