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The 1811–1812 New Madrid earthquakes (/ ˈ m æ d r ɪ d /) were a series of intense intraplate earthquakes beginning with an initial earthquake of moment magnitude 7.2–8.2 on December 16, 1811, followed by a moment magnitude 7.4 aftershock on the same day. Two additional earthquakes of similar magnitude followed in January and February 1812.
Learn about the three large earthquakes that occurred in 1811-1812 in the central U.S., causing widespread damage and geological changes. Find out the magnitudes, aftershocks, effects, and historical accounts of this significant seismic event.
At 2:15 a.m. on December 16, 1811, residents of the frontier town of New Madrid, in what is now Missouri, were jolted from their beds by a violent earthquake. The ground heaved and pitched,...
Mar 29, 2024 · New Madrid earthquakes of 1811–12, series of three large earthquakes that occurred near New Madrid, Missouri, between December 1811 and February 1812. There were thousands of aftershocks, of which 1,874 were large enough to be felt in Louisville, Kentucky, about 190 miles (300 km) away.
- John P. Rafferty
Learn about the history, geology, and hazards of the New Madrid seismic zone, the most seismically active area east of the Rocky Mountains. Find out how earthquakes in 1811-1812 caused massive liquefaction, landslides, and river changes.
Learn about the three large earthquakes that occurred in 1811-1812 in the New Madrid seismic zone, and their historical and scientific significance. Find maps, eyewitness accounts, and publications from the U.S. Geological Survey.
Jun 16, 2023 · Learn about the series of powerful earthquakes that shook the Mississippi River valley and its surrounding states in 1811-1812, causing widespread damage, death, and change. Find out how the earthquakes affected the landscape, settlement, and history of the region and the legends that grew around them.
