New Madrid Earthquakes
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When: December 1811 – April 1812
First Earthquake: December 16, 1811
Where: Mississippi River Valley with epicenters focused in northeast
Arkansas and southeast Missouri
The New Madrid, Missouri, earthquake was felt over a two-millionsquare-mile area with tremors reported as far away as London.
Shockwaves were recorded from Canada to the Gulf Coast, and there
were accounts of chimneys that came crashing down in Maine.
Effects
o Huge cracks in the earth's surface
o Fissures, large and small, ejected coal and sand into the air
o New lakes formed
o The Mississippi River briefly reversed its course after rising
and falling, causing giant waves to engulf and capsize boats
o Some of the most dramatic effects occurred along rivers and
streams as banks collapsed, covering rivers with floating trees
o The most lasting geographic effect was the creation of Reelfoot
Lake, a body of water in a fissure formed by the earthquake.
o Sand blows (also called sand boils or sand volcanoes),
o Seismic tar balls (small balls of solidified petrolium found in
sand blows and fissures)
o Earthquake lights (caused by the immense pressure on quartz
crystals in the ground)
o Earthquake smog
o Loud thunder-like explosions
o Strange animal behavior prior to the quakes.
Assignment
New Madrid Earthquakes





When: December 1811 – April 1812
First Earthquake: December 16, 1811
Where: Mississippi River Valley with epicenters focused in northeast
Arkansas and southeast Missouri
The New Madrid, Missouri, earthquake was felt over a two-millionsquare-mile area with tremors reported as far away as London.
Shockwaves were recorded from Canada to the Gulf Coast, and there
were accounts of chimneys that came crashing down in Maine.
Effects
o Huge cracks in the earth's surface
o Fissures, large and small, ejected coal and sand into the air
o New lakes formed
o The Mississippi River briefly reversed its course after rising
and falling, causing giant waves to engulf and capsize boats
o Some of the most dramatic effects occurred along rivers and
streams as banks collapsed, covering rivers with floating trees
o The most lasting geographic effect was the creation of Reelfoot
Lake, a body of water in a fissure formed by the earthquake.
o Sand blows (also called sand boils or sand volcanoes),
o Seismic tar balls (small balls of solidified petrolium found in
sand blows and fissures)
o Earthquake lights (caused by the immense pressure on quartz
crystals in the ground)
o Earthquake smog
o Loud thunder-like explosions
o Strange animal behavior prior to the quakes.
Assignment
Write a narrative (story) about the New Madrid earthquakes. Your story can
include any characters you wish but must be historically accurate. (for
example: no cars or phones). Include all basic aspects of a story (characters,
plot, setting) AND include at least 5 supporting details from the above notes (3
have to be effects).
Write a narrative (story) about the New Madrid earthquakes. Your story can
include any characters you wish but must be historically accurate. (for
example: no cars or phones). Include all basic aspects of a story (characters,
plot, setting) AND include at least 5 supporting details from the above notes (3
have to be effects).
Suggestions:
 Write from the perspective of someone who has just survived the worst
of the quakes.
 Write about a family who survives the earthquakes but experience
heartbreak in the aftermath.
 Write about a (vampire, alien, wizard) who experiences the quakes and
how they deal with the effects.
 Write about someone who becomes a hero by saving people during the
quake.
Suggestions:
 Write from the perspective of someone who has just survived the worst
of the quakes.
 Write about a family who survives the earthquakes but experience
heartbreak in the aftermath.
 Write about a (vampire, alien, wizard) who experiences the quakes and
how they deal with the effects.
 Write about someone who becomes a hero by saving people during the
quake.