1811-12 New Madrid Earthquake facts for kids
The 1811–12 New Madrid earthquakes were a series of very strong earthquakes. They happened near the town of New Madrid in what was then the Louisiana Territory. Today, this area is part of the US state of Missouri.
The first big quake struck on December 16, 1811. Scientists believe it was very powerful, possibly around 7.5 to 7.9 on the Richter scale. Another strong quake, an aftershock, happened on the same day. These earthquakes were the most powerful ones ever recorded in the eastern United States (east of the Rocky Mountains) until 2018.
How Far Were They Felt?
These huge earthquakes were felt strongly over a very large area, about 130,000 square kilometers (50,000 square miles). People felt them moderately across an even bigger area, almost 3 million square kilometers (1 million square miles)! To compare, the famous 1906 San Francisco earthquake was felt moderately over a much smaller area, about 16,000 square kilometers (6,200 square miles). This shows how incredibly widespread the New Madrid quakes were.
What Did People Think?
Many Native American tribes lived in the area where the earthquakes happened. They tried to understand what these powerful events meant. For many tribes who were part of Tecumseh's group, the earthquakes seemed like a sign. They believed it meant they should support Tecumseh and his brother, who were important leaders.
Earthquakes Today
Even today, small earthquakes still happen in this area. It is known as the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ). Scientists have studied this zone carefully. They estimate that there is a high chance, over 90%, that another earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 or higher could happen there by the year 2050.
