Readers' photos show off the natural beauty of Lake Tahoe this winter

. . Photo: David N. Braun/ David N. Braun Photo: David N. Braun/ David N. Braun Image 1 of / 90 Caption Close Readers' photos show off the natural beauty of Lake Tahoe this winter 1 / 90 Back to Gallery

Last week, we solicited readers for photographs showing off the natural beauty of the Lake Tahoe area this winter, and we were flooded with images.

Thank you to all who contributed to the "Lake Tahoe: Winter 2017" gallery above; you've helped to create a celebration of one of the most beautiful corners of our country.

This is an appropriate time to tout the Lake Tahoe region as it's in the midst of a special moment. After an unrelenting winter blast buried the Sierra Nevada in snow, Tahoe is now welcoming gorgeous weather with bright sunshine and bluebird skies by day and epic sunsets in the evening.

The alpine lake rimmed by snow-capped mountains is brimming with water and its cobalt-blue waters are brilliant against the milk-white snow.

"Tahoe is incredible right now," wrote Janine Sprout, author of Alpine Trailblazer and a contributor to the gallery, in an email. "Frosted mountains ring Big Blue and the water level is the highest it's been in years. Air temperatures are warm enough to sit on the snowy shore in short sleeves and get a tan. Precipitation charts are at record levels, heralding a spectacular summer season for visitors and hikers."

Weather will return to Northern California this week, bringing the potential for even more snow in the Tahoe region.

Take a look at the gallery above; it'll make you want to run for the Sierra.