www.greatriver.com/nature.htm"Joel writes: When I lived along the Mississippi, I heard of a time and an event which caused the river to flow backwards for several days. Can you elaborate on this, please?
Joel, you're asking about the New Madrid Earthquake in 1811-12. It was strong enough to ring church bells in Boston, and the few inhabitants of New Madrid and Caruthersville, Missouri, reported that the earth rolled in waves like the sea and the river flowed upstream. In fact, boats were found on the river banks forty miles upstream of where they had been moored. Most likely the river flowed north for a short time as it rushed to fill a depression that formed to the east of the Mississippi that was nearly 100 miles long, six miles wide and 10 to 50 feet deep. Today Reelfoot lake is located in the lowest portion of this depression.
St. Francis Lake in Arkansas was also formed by the New Madrid Earthquake. Visitors will enjoy great crappie fishing and an interesting visitor center at Reelfoot Lake State Park in NW Tennessee. The state park resort there is on stilts over the water. Enjoy a nice boardwalk among the cyprus trees near the Visitor Center. Campsites & RV facilities across the street from the resort. (Phone 901-253-7756, Tiptonville, TN). You'll find more information in Volume 3 of Discover! America's Great River Road."