But, in its coverage of the recent discovery, the LA Times said that Cousteau never actually visited Lake Tahoe. They become inactive. There have been many sightings since: The Tahoe Tessie has since become a popular icon for local businesses to use as marketing. Jun 1, 2021. After graduating from France's naval academy in 1933, he was commissioned a second lieutenant. Windeckers whole body was still in his wetsuit and boots when he was found, thus providing more evidence for how long bodies can be preserved down there. It DEFINITELY happened. Some in the region insist that famed diver and naturalist Jacques Cousteau explored the lake in a mini-submarine in the mid-1970s and emerged pale and shaken. The stories of mob activity in the region are endless. Mining on the Comstock Lode, lithograph drawn by T.L. However, the creature moved up-and-down like a mammal, instead of side-to-side like a reptile. The temperature at the surface of the lake varies, from a low of about 40 degrees in February or March to a high of about 75 degrees towards the end of the summer. Golmitz says its light shines about two to three feet wide. It has been said that some independent filmmaker got ahold of some deep sea diving machine and found where all these people were at and went down to see for himself so he could film a documentary on it. Jacques Cousteau/Cause of death He said, The world is not ready for what I have seen.. And, global warming plays a role: the warm surface of the lake gives a particular species of microalgae a competitive advantage, and the tiny bodies of the microalgae cloud the water. In 1901, a writer named Sam Davis picked up the end of De Quilles tale of the subterranean tunnel to begin his own story, titled The Mystery of the Savage Sump. Davis story was also published in newspapers nationwide, and it also created intrigue in a peculiar hole at the bottom of Lake Tahoe that connected to the mines at the Comstock Lode. They often relate to the facts that dead bodies tend not to float there and, because of the cold temperatures, they stay preserved longer. In 2006 a family vacationing near Tahoe sighted a large, black, scaly looking creature similar in appearance to a sturgeon with an upturned white nose. Some say his grandson, Philippe Cousteau Jr., visited there, but only for a 2002 speaking engagement. Rumor has it that Jacques Cousteau brought a special high altitude submarine to Lake Tahoe to explore the lake in the 1970s. Jacques Cousteau, who brought the wonders of the oceans depths to hundreds of millions of readers, filmgoers and television viewers, died at his home here today at 87. Jacques Cousteau was a filmmaker, inventor, author, and conservationist. Weve had so many sightings of an enormous something over the years.. Lava tube connections between Lake Tahoe and other lakes are an urban myth, Byers said. The bacteria produce gases as waste: carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen sulfide. Another aspect of the rumor speculates that, not only are they floating, gathered and preserved, but are shrunk in on themselves as well, due to the pressure. The rumor (weve all heard it) is that there are layers of murdered people, who were dumped in the lake and remain there, floating in a thermocline, which keeps them perfectly preserved and awaiting discovery. What the heck did he see? But McLaughlin has another reason for dismissing the rumor. he asked. A Lake Tahoe tour company offers a two-hour boat ride (for $69.75) called the M.S. Quora User Political Animal, Physician, Goofball, and All Around Nerd. This brings oxygen from the surface layer down to the depths, and nutrients from the depths up to the surface. For $69.75, that floating video presentation should have included footage of Tahoe Tessie. The story was so compelling with eyeless fish, followed by greed, scandal and murder it became folklore, circulating across the United States for two decades, with multiple writers adding their own spin to the tale. Cousteau was hoping to make a documentary about it. Since the 1970s, the surface layer of the lake has gotten warmer in the summer, and it retains that heat throughout the winter. The story probably evolved out of a visit his grandson made to Tahoe in the 1980s to attend a fund-raiser. I had no idea, Murphy said. Windecker reportedly experienced difficulty with his equipment and began to sink. Several days later, Meekers body turned up in the mine shaft, so scalded by hot water he was unidentifiable. I Remember reading about Jacque Cousteau in the Montery Hearld in the early 70 s exploring Lake Tahoe ,but he could not find the bottom and rumors at the time were that he did see gold along the way down in rock strata. A further and wilder rumor states that Cousteaus planned Tahoe dive was halted by powerful individuals, for reasons unknown. Ive heard stories that people have seen a 5-foot-long fish, said Kombiz Farokhpour, who owns The Tahoe Fisherman. He described a species that looked like goldfish but could only survive in almost boiling water. I think it is 100 percent true, he said. What are 3 interesting facts about Jacques Cousteau? "The world isn't ready for what was down there," is the quote . Moonshine Ink is independently owned and operated, meaning we are nimble and responsive beholden to no one but ourselves and our readers. It was pretty scary for them. Bob Pool retired in 2014 from the Los Angeles Times, where he had been a general assignment reporter on the Metro staff since 1983. In Virginia City, Clemens also adopted his own pen name: Mark Twain. Apparently, years ago, Cousteau went scuba diving in Lake Tahoe. Conventional scuba divers have to stop at about 100 feet. They were wondering, Whats this person doing down here? he said. Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news. link. |. Jacques Cousteau, the french waterman, went to the bottom of lake tahoe sometime in the 50-60s. The lake was formed about two million years ago as part of the Lake Tahoe Basin, and its modern extent was shaped during the ice ages. McLaughlin also finds this rumor preposterous. We do know the mob was influential on the Tahoe area in the 60s and 70s. Heavenly Valley's ski runs can be seen quite clearly, as can just a bit of Job's Peak on the right. Give a fish a man, and he'll eat for weeks!". - Active NorCal, jacques cousteau dive lake tahoe - seekanswer, Large Avalanche Buries Apartment Building in Tahoes Olympic Valley, Satellite Photos Show Northern California Reservoirs Rising Rapidly, Rare Water Tornado Photographed in Humboldt County Amidst Severe Weather, Mammoth Mountain Becomes to First Ski Resort on the Planet to Surpass 600 Inches of Snow, Its Officially Tahoes Snowiest October Through February Period Since 1970, Yosemite Closure Extended Indefinitely with Critical Services Buried Under Snow, This Northern California Town Has Its Own Language, The Roads Are Treacherous Throughout Northern California Right Now, Tahoe Ski Resorts Close with Whiteout Blizzard Conditions, The Roads Are Closed. Heard a lot of stories. In 1876, long after Twain had left town, De Quille published one of his fictional stories, disguised as a news article, about five eyeless fish found in hot water at the bottom of one of the mines. Philippe Cousteau This fall, Goldman is planning to be part of a project, Tahoe Deep Blue, that will explore the bottom of Tahoe with a remote operated vehicle. Most sightings of bodies have occurred when the water temperature warms up. I think a lot of people are very sincere about believing there never was any Cousteau expedition to Lake Tahoe. His family said his death was due to a heart attack following a respiratory infection. There is no exact number of bodies at the bottom of the lake but locals and experts estimate over 200 bodies are still preserved down below because of the cold temperatures. The story was credible enough to fool scientific institutions into requesting specimens for analysis to which De Quille quipped, A sold professor the eyeless fish biz.. He emerged from the water shaken, but not with cold. In the 1960s, you could see down to a depth of about 100 feet, but now you can see down to only about 70 feet. Avalanche slams into Olympic Valley apartment building; No injuries reported, Southwest Gas offers snow safety advice, tips, Tahoe Youth & Family Services appoints Lane as interim director, IVGID Board of Trustees discuss budget goals, transparency, Tahoe weather: Break before weekend storm could drop another couple of feet of snow. In the 1950s, two divers reported finding an underwater cave, and a creature shot out, leaving the silt stirred. The story probably evolved out of a visit his grandson made to Tahoe in the 1980s to attend a fund-raiser.. I know there are a lot of you. Brown grew up on Tahoe's West Shore. Mosquito Fire in Tahoe National Forest balloons to 5,000 acres, Burning Man aftermath leaves mounds of trash in Tahoe area, 'Don't be a hero': The bomb that nearly destroyed a Tahoe resort. Sightings continued in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, including by a water-skier who swore he saw a 10-foot-long creature swimming beneath him and the owner of a local television station who spotted something with brown humps plodding through Zephyr Cove. This content is imported from YouTube. He points out that the railroads were happy to pay the Chinese laborers because "they were a reliable workforce, so why alienate them? But, as UC Daviss recently released Tahoe: State of the Lake Report explains, the lake is not as clear as it used to be. It might look like big fish depending on how many beers a guys had.. Jennifer Hollander explains why they often don't float. As a biologist I knew nothing about it. These bodies stay preserved because at depths of 600 to 700 feet; the lake constantly stays at a temperature of around 39 degrees fahrenheit. Among those said to populate Lake Tahoes dark depths are Chinese laborers who helped build the railroad across the Sierra Nevada in the 1860s. Or it could just be people talking, said Chris Ziegler, owner of First Strike Sportfishing. What is even more unfortunate is that Philippe Cousteau's . Im not going to poo-poo it, Murphy said. There are some who still insist that Tahoe Tessie isnt a sturgeon or a fun local legend but rather a dangerous unidentified underwater creature. At 1645 feet (depending on the level of water in the basin), Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the US. Tales of Lake Tahoes mythical (or at least unidentified) underwater inhabitants span centuries. Beth Spotswood is Alta's digital editor, events manager, and a contributing writer. The victims were thrown in the lake and due to a special combination of pressure, temperature, altitude and current unique to Lake Tahoe, remain there today. Photo: Santappa. . He did not identify members of the group. He may have had a heart attack or a stroke or maybe just ran out of air. In 1930, he entered the cole navale and graduated as a gunnery officer. In 2011, Donald Christopher Windeckers body was recovered and identified after dying in a diving accident 17 years ago. The Cousteau story may be a myth, but it is no less chilling, because the physical conditions of the lake are such that bodies could still be drifting beneath the surface. Jacques Cousteau has never been to Lake Tahoe. He emerged from the water shaken, but not with cold. Jacques Cousteau, who brought the wonders of the ocean's depths to hundreds of millions of readers, filmgoers and television viewers, died at his home here today at 87. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Chris P. Grinder. According to the RGJ, independent filmmaker and explorer Jacques Cousteau, received some deep sea diving equipment and found the location where all these bodies supposedly were. He was the first underwater archaeologist. Learn how your comment data is processed. Tales persist that a longtime Tahoe fire chief responded to a drowning call and found the body of a well-preserved Native American girl, fully clothed in a 19th century ceremonial dress, floating in the lake. "All of our bodies have bacteria that live in them," she said. However it is unlikely that these bodies remain in the lake. I wonder if millions of years ago a dinosaur drowned in the lake and feel to the bottom, froze solid and on occasion bloats up from a slow discomposure, rises to the surface, thaws a little releases the gases in a turmoil on the waters surface as is reported, and then sinks back down again once the floatation of the gases is gone? This means that not only are there hundreds of bodies tied together but that they are all preserved because of the cold temperatures. In previous years, mixing has occurred down to about 1500 feet. Its reporters especially De Quille and Twain also had a flair for the imaginative, with a taste for humor and satire, which placed them in a literary movement in Nevada called the Sagebrush School. Some Tahoe locals insist that bodies of boaters and swimmers who drowned in Lake Tahoe have turned up Pyramid Lake and vice versa. When Cousteau returned, he said he would not film it because the world was not ready to see what the U.S. government did to these poor people. The well-preserved body of Donald Christopher Windecker was discovered July 23 on an underwater shelf, 265 feet below the surface. De Quilles tall tale about the eyeless fish is, quite honestly, an entertaining read. Charles Goldman, founder of the UC Davis Tahoe Research Group, recently confirmed that the Cousteau rumor is not true. Gabriela: Plus Dave says the idea that dead bodies could be preserved at the bottom of the . Still in its wetsuit, the body was very well preserved. The lake is 5 by 6 miles (8.0 by 9.7 km) across, with a caldera rim ranging in elevation from 7,000 to 8,000 feet (2,100 to 2,400 m) and an average lake depth of 1,148 feet (350 m). Think of a box of copier paper. TIM: People our parents' age grew up watching his award-winning documentaries. Just look at that blue sky, freshwater, green forest, and monstrous snake creature. The rock underneath the lake sank down to form a flat-bottomed basin called a graben. When asked about his exploration he reportedly said, 'The world is not ready to know what is in Lake Tahoe.' But, according to sources, he never visited Lake Tahoe. 1 What did Jacques Cousteau find in the bottom of Lake Tahoe? The article looked back 20 years prior, when three miners in Virginia City discovered a corpse at the bottom of a deep mining shaft, built during the Comstock Lode. I flipped. Maybe the bodies of unlucky gamblers who crossed the Mafia in 1950s Reno. It is said that Cousteau emerged from the dive and claimedthe world isnt ready for what was down there.. McCormicks 1985 childrens book, The Story of Tahoe Tessie: The Original Lake Tahoe Monster, continues to sell at local gift shops. What did Cousteau see? Depending on who is telling the story, Cousteau either encountered a Loch Ness-type monster that locals have dubbed Tahoe Tessie or came upon a bunch of dead people. She writes about Lake Tahoe and mountain communities throughout the West. ", Something else that can break down dead bodies in Lake Tahoe is marine life, which brings to mind the not-tasteful quote from the book "Animal Crossing -- Wild World": "Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day. The lake level is controlled by Lake Tahoe Dam built in 1913 at the lakes only outlet, the Truckee River, at Tahoe City. Jacques Cousteau/Living or Deceased. Famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau brought a mini-submarine to the lake, and did several dives in search of the 1,600-foot bottom. Jacques Cousteau, in full Jacques-Yves Cousteau, (born June 11, 1910, Saint-Andr-de-Cubzac, Francedied June 25, 1997, Paris), French naval officer, ocean explorer, and coinventor of the Aqua-Lung, known for his extensive underseas investigations. The jellyfish are about the size of a human fist and have been spotted at Fallen Leaf Lake and Echo Lake in late summer and early fall, according to Murphy. While submerged in the lake Cousteau reportedly had an encounter with something so terrifying that he refused to reveal any information to the public on what he had seen. Goldman said he is by no means sold on the idea. The mob would also give punishments in the mid 1900s. Lets not forget, The Godfather 2 had a scene where Fredo was killed and dumped in the lake: Who knows whats true and what isnt. Its a gruesome story. Four more divers remain missing in the same area, which is infamous for swallowing up victims. Now for the two myths: Lake Tahoe is a dumping ground for victims of mob hits and Chinese workers. Jean-Michel CousteauPierre-Yves Cousteau ", He points out that the transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869 and "Surviving photographic documentation and (Central Pacific Railroad) Chinese payrolls confirm that large numbers of Chinese were still on the CPRR payrolls as successful track workers well into the 1870s.". He said, "The world is not ready for what I have seen." What did Cousteau see? Jacques Cousteau/Sons Is that a waveor is that Tessie?. Nearly dying led him to his lifes purpose. They may never be proven, but its certainly fun to contemplate. He went on to say, Low temperatures will slow down bacterial activity, but the process of decay would not stop unless it was completely frozen.. Ago, Cousteau went scuba diving in Lake Tahoe have turned up Pyramid and! 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