Earthquake 1811 new madrid fault. The main shock that occurred at 215 am on december 16 1811 was a result of slippage along the cottonwood grove fault in northeastern arkansas. Since 1812 frequent smaller earthquakes have been recorded in the area. On december 15 1811 william pierce was traveling the rivers of the west in a flat bottomed boat about 116 miles below the mouth of the ohio river and just south of new madrid.
Three earthquakes had a magnitude of 70 or greater. They remain the most powerful earthquakes to hit the contiguous united states east of the rocky mountains in recorded history. 1812 january 23 1500 utc new madrid missouri magnitude 70 78 this is the third principal shock of the 1811 1812 sequence.
The earthquakes as well as the seismic zone. The first earthquake of this series on december 16 1811 was located in northeast arkansas. The ground sank by several feet creating low areas that were flooded by the mississippi river.
The 181112 new madrid earthquakes were a series of intense intraplate earthquakes beginning with an initial earthquake of moment magnitude 7282 on december 16 1811 followed by a moment magnitude 74 aftershock on the same day. Scholars do agree however that the new madrid earthquakes were the strongest such events recorded in north america east of the rocky mountains. Katie prince ward esker in 1943.
It was followed by at least three large aftershocks with magnitudes that ranged from 60 to 70 over the course of the next 48 hours. The new madrid earthquake of 1811 12 felt in ouachita parish ouachitaparishhistory uncategorized august 10 2020 august 5 2020 2 minutes wednesday i was thumbing through a book we have called the muse family of pointe coupee parish compiled by mrs. A sequence of three main shocks in 1811 1812.
The maximum documented intensity for both earthquakes on december 16 1811 is mm intensity viii at richmond kentucky. Earthquake of december 16 1811. Louis missouri and natchez mississippi.
This sequence of three very large earthquakes is usually referred to as the new madrid earthquakes after the missouri town that was the largest settlement on the mississippi river between st. The new madrid fault system was responsible for the 181112 new madrid earthquakes and has the potential to produce large earthquakes in the future. Two additional earthquakes of similar magnitude followed in january and february 1812.
On the basis of the large area of damage 600000 square kilometers the widespread area of perceptibility 5000000 square kilometers and the complex physiographic changes that occurred the new madrid. Tree with a double set of roots formed in the aftermath of the new madrid earthquakes 181112. The muse family is important to ouachita parish history.