Woman falls to her death while taking photos at Eagle Falls in Lake Tahoe

A still from drone footage above Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay shot on March 4, after the lake and surrounding mountains saw a record-setting amount of snowfall during the month of February. (Photo: Benjamin Spillman, Sam Gross)

RENO, Nev. – A woman died after losing her footing and falling while taking photos in Northern California. 

According to the North Tahoe Fire Protection District in a post published on Facebook Friday evening, the woman died at Eagle Falls near Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay.

Water cascades 150 feet from the waterfall overlooking Lake Tahoe.

Fire district spokeswoman Erin Holland said Saturday that witnesses reported the young woman was too close to the edge. There was no guardrail blocking access to the area.

Her identity has not been released. 

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“Crews from the Tahoe Truckee Regional Rescue Team responded to Eagle Falls in Emerald Bay to recover the body of a young woman who was taking photos at the falls, lost her footing and went over,” the fire department said. “Please avoid the area while emergency personnel complete the investigation.

“This is a sad reminder to be cautious when taking selfies and other photos in dangerous areas. Don’t underestimate the power of water falls, rivers, and cold water temperatures.”

Holland says very cold water feeding the waterfall is moving extremely fast because of snowmelt from record snowfall in the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains.

Contributing: The Associated Press

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