The story of Reelfoot Lake.......

[Bob Wright]

Reelfoot Lake was formed during the winter of 1811 ~ 1812 when a massive earthquake struck the United States. (During this period, land in Tennessee between the Mississippi River and Tennessee River was Indian land.) The epicenter was around the Spanish settlement of New Madrid, in what is now Missouri. The shocks were so great that brick chimneys were toppled in Cincinnati, Ohio and church bells clanged in Boston, Massachusetts. The ground in northwest Tennessee rolled and sank, and water from nearby Mississippi filled the depression, engulfing a lowland forest, and forming the lake.

The Indian legend has it that a Choctaw man kidnapped a Chickasaw woman, and the gods were so angry they sent the earthquake.

The name, Reelfoot, comes from a Chickasaw brave who had a club foot, hence walked with a reeling gait.

Today many bald eagles winter here, escaping the severe winter up north. As a matter of interest, eagles mate for life and those that are planning offspring nest here. Otherwise one eagle might spend the winter at Reelfoot while its mate winters in Mississippi or Arkansas. Matrimonial harmony.

Bob Wright

 

[Conservative]

Great stuff, thanks Bob

 

[toysoldier]

There were two or three quakes of 8.0 or greater. The fault is primed to cut loose again at any time.

 

[Tallbald]

We live about 90 miles from there in the insurance business rating scheme "moderate damage area". We just paid our earthquake rider on homeowner insurance to the tune of I think $130 for a year. The next one's coming we are told. Can't argue with nature. Thus we have stuff on hand to deal with the aftermath (we hope) at all times. May get tired of beans, spam, rice and cornbread though. Nah. We like 'em. Don.

 

[gramps]

Reportedly, the Mississippi River flowed backwards for two weeks, while the land flooded to form Reelfoot Lake. It isn't whether the New Madrid fault will slip, it is when. I was the CD director in a small middleTn county in the 80's. We were told then that there was a 100% chance of another earthquake in 30 years. Still waiting!
gramps

 

[toysoldier]

A tilt in the land caused the river to back up until it cut through and flowed again. In some places, high dirt banks fell into the river, causing localize tsunamis. Sunken snags shook loose and floated to the surface, where they totally clogged stretches of the river. The University of Missouri Press has a good book about this. I had a copy, loaned it out, never got it back.