Supermoon over the Tea House in Emerald Bay

This enchanting photograph captures the Supermoon rising directly behind the historic Tea House on Fannette Island in Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay. The moon, appearing unusually large and luminous due to its close proximity to Earth, casts a surreal glow over the rugged stone structure, once used for afternoon tea by guests of the nearby Vikingsholm Castle. Framed by towering pines and the surrounding Sierra Nevada wilderness, the image evokes a fairytale-like atmosphere, blending natural grandeur with a touch of human history perched above the lake's serene waters.

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A Supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with the point in its orbit closest to Earth, known as perigee. This makes the moon appear larger and brighter than usual—up to 14% bigger and 30% more luminous to the naked eye. The effect is especially striking when the moon is near the horizon, creating a dramatic and memorable sight often mistaken for an optical illusion.

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The Tea House on Fannette Island in Emerald Bay was built in the late 1920s by Lora Knight, the wealthy philanthropist who also constructed the nearby Vikingsholm Castle. Intended as a whimsical retreat for enjoying afternoon tea with guests, the small stone structure crowns the island’s rocky peak and offers panoramic views of Lake Tahoe. Though the interior was once decorated with elegant furnishings, only the stone shell remains today, serving as a scenic and historical landmark that reflects the grandeur and imagination of Tahoe’s early 20th-century summer estates.