Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake is a reservoir located in the San Bernardino Mountains in San Bernardino County, California, at an elevation of 6,743 feet above sea level. It is a snow and rain-fed lake with no tributaries or mechanical replenishment, measuring approximately 7 miles long and 2.5 miles wide. The region has been inhabited by the Serrano people for approximately 2,500 years, who referred to the area as "Yuhaviat" or "Pine Place". European explorers first saw the area in the 1840s, when Benjamin Wilson led a posse to hunt Native Americans suspected of raiding ranches. Wilson discovered the area's rich wildlife, particularly bears, and dubbed the grassy expanse "Bear Valley" and the nearby lake "Big Bear Lake". The valley became a gold prospecting venue in 1859, and the discovery of gold led to a gold rush in the area. In 1884, the valley was dammed to create a reservoir for irrigation purposes, but the dam proved insufficient for the needs of the Redlands citrus growers.learn more on wikipedia