Welcome to the Park of the Week Newsletter for Thursday, June 8, 2023. This week’s featured park has an origin story you won’t believe.
Reelfoot Lake State Park
Location
Northwestern corner of Tennessee, United States
Claim to fame
In the winter of 1811-12, a series of earthquakes struck the border of Missouri and Tennessee. A handful of the quakes were massive, estimated between 7.0-8.6, the largest tremor felt as far away as Canada.
The power of the quakes forced the half-mile-wide Mississippi River, which runs between the two states, to temporarily flow backwards and onto nearby land. As the ground rippled, some of it uplifted and some sank, creating a bowl that much of the displaced water could not escape.
Once the quakes ceased, the Mississippi River continued its journey south, but a new, shallow lake remained. Eventually this lake was protected by the state of Tennessee as Reelfoot Lake State Park.
Reason to visit
Today, Reelfoot Lake State Park is a birder’s dream. Tourists from around the world visit each winter, hoping to glimpse the bald eagles that nest there. In February, the park celebrates an eagle festival and operates boat tours out to view the nests. Reelfoot Lake is also popular for fishing and boating.
Wild Fact
Reelfoot Lake’s unique origins created a lake like no other. The lake is so shallow that trees (like the water-tolerant Baldcypress featured in the photo above) grow within it. Boats with concave hulls are challenging to navigate in the lake’s shallow waters, so locals designed a special type of flat-bottomed boat called a “stumpjumper.”
Want to learn more about Reelfoot Lake State Park? Visit the park’s website here.
Thanks for reading. Each Thursday, I send out an image and description of a unique natural or cultural treasure like the one above. Learn new things, explore special places, and find your inspiration: sign up for the free newsletter today.