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Donner Lake

lake, California, United States

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Donner Lake is a lake in California, United States, located in the Sierra Nevada mountains. It is famously associated with the Donner party, a group of American pioneers who became stranded near the lake in the winter of 1846-1847. Trapped by heavy snow, the party ran out of food, leading to extreme hardship and, reportedly, cannibalism among some survivors. This event marked the worst disaster of the overland migration to California. The lake and nearby Donner Pass are named in memory of the party's tragic ordeal.12

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