LAKE TAHOE - A string of moderate earthquakes rumbled the Nevada desert on Tuesday, a couple hours south of Lake Tahoe, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Thirteen earthquakes - the largest being 5.1 magnitude - struck near Tonopah, Nev., near the Nevada/California state line, according to USGS, most of which hit late Tuesday afternoon.

The 5.1 quake hit at 4:10 p.m. Tuesday about 45 miles west of Tonopah and about 122 miles south of South Lake Tahoe. The temblor was felt strongly in the Bishop-Mammoth Lakes, Calif., area, according to USGS.

A string of aftershocks ranging from 2.6 to 3.8 in magnitude struck later Tuesday, all in roughly the same area, according to USGS.