This Day…

1811-The largest earthquake in American history occurs, with its center at New Madrid, Missouri. Tremors are felt over 300,000 square miles. The ground sinks or rises by as much as 5-25 feet within a 30,000 square-mile area. For several hours, the Mississippi River actually flows northwards, and Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee is created by the overflow. The greatest loss of life is on boats navigating the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, but, miraculously, the steamboat New Orleans survives.