Get out your swimming costumes!

For the more adventurous or athletic, there are other activities to suit their skills and ambitions. Firstly, jet-skiing, which is fun and physical, and allows you to show off in front of your friends. It's not something you can find everywhere, and that's just as well, because of the noise. Rafting is also available, not far from the lake.

Two other disciplines are also very popular in the region, but less easy to practise: water skiing and scuba diving. The latter requires preparation and booking of equipment, of course.

The shores of Lake Tahoe are dotted with numerous fine sandy beaches, some of them very beautiful, with a Caribbean cove feel. It's obviously very pleasant, but also rare for a mountain lake.

Baldwin Beach, or plage de Baldwin, is long and lined with conifers, and in places resembles the beaches of Ile aux Pins in New Caledonia.

Pope Beach, another beautiful, large beach, is reminiscent of our Landes de Gascogne beaches, wide, slightly sloping and lined with trees that provide pleasant shade when the sun is shining. There are also a few wooden tables and benches for when you get out of the bath.

There are many other beaches that will give you just as much pleasure, such as Nevada Beach in Zephyr Cove Park, on the Nevada shore. But also Commons Beach, Fallen Leaf Lake, etc. Kiva Beach is a bit rocky and attracts fewer Americans (but it's the only one that accepts dogs, so you might be interested). So you might be the only ones on the beach.

Kings Beach, to the north, is one of America's favourite beaches because, in addition to its natural appeal, it is surrounded by a variety of attractions such as an open-air swimming pool on the beach, a golf course, tennis courts, pilates and yoga centres, restaurants and even petanque courts, a rarity in the USA, where you can play a fun Italian game called bocce balls. It's also a popular fishing spot for Americans, who are happy to hire a fully equipped boat from the port.

In winter, of course, it's cold and snowy - you're in the mountains. Water activities are reduced to a trickle, but the lake, apparently because it's so deep, doesn't freeze, except on the banks when the winters are harsh. At that time of year, the beaches are covered in snow and everyone is up in the mountains skiing, so you're sure to have a quiet time. You can fish, boat or kayak in direct communion with nature.

In all, there are 25 beaches dotting the shores of the lake, and as many towns that can often be considered real freshwater seaside resorts.

We've been water-skiing on Lake Tahoe for as long as the sport has existed. Being towed by a speedboat standing on skis is first and foremost a magical sensation, as well as providing an invigorating contact with the elements. It's also a real sport, requiring you to resist the force of the pull with your whole body. Ten minutes of water skiing will put all your muscles to the test.

In recent years, when inventive and playful minds have been on the lookout for new sensations, as well as original ideas to boost the offers of water sports hire companies, there have been attempts to copy this towed sliding sport. That's how tubing and wakeboarding came to be so popular at Lake Tahoe. The former is done with a tube (meaning a big, strong buoy that you sink into), towed by a speedboat. It's a bit like water-skiing, but from the comfort of your sofa.

The second, on the other hand, is at least as physical as its model. It is practised with a sort of large monoski, the board. Both are great fun, as the waves generated by the boat are caught head-on as soon as you move a little. Finally, you can also water ski barefoot, i.e. without skis, with your feet directly on the water. It's a Christ-like sport that takes practice.

Kayaks can be hired (almost) everywhere. You'll see them on the beaches, stretched out in the sun, waiting for you in rows as colourful as sweets. Hire is usually for 1-hour periods, but there's no limit, so you can bet on a half-day getaway, for example. Kayaking is physical, but you can go at your own pace. It sounds like a boating option, but it's actually an activity that promises tranquillity and contact with the natural elements.

Less common, jet-skiing is available all around the lake and is easy to hire. In Tahoe City and Kings Beach, Tahoe Water Adventures hires out jet-skis and also takes you parasailing. Be warned: this discipline, which is also a sport, requires an introduction by a professional, as the accelerations are very fast and have thrown some people off. In addition, safety instructions must be observed to avoid any accidents, particularly with bathers.

Finally, a few kilometres from the lake, you can go rafting on the Truckee River. Class II-III white-water rafting trips last half a day and are supervised by experienced professional guides.

Lake Tahoe is one of the most sought-after diving spots in the whole of the United States, no doubt because the visibility is exceptional, often up to 20 metres or more, which is very unusual in the sea.

You'll have a much better chance of seeing the underwater fauna, flora and landscape. A clear, crystal-clear view with a 360° panorama.

You'll be able to see shoals of red salmon that would make a garrison of brown bears salivate, crayfish that look like lobsters (because they're much bigger than our French crayfish), rainbow trout and, if you're lucky, the endangered Lahontan cutthroat trout.