We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Environment

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is the New Madrid Fault?

By KD Morgan
Updated: Jun 04, 2024
Views: 19,862
Share

The New Madrid Fault is located beneath the Mississippi River Valley in the Midwest United States. It is part of the North American tectonic plate and the major fault among four, located in this region. It is yet to be confirmed if these faults intersect or are unique to each other.

Faults result from cracks and breaks in rock formations. These faults increase the seismic activity and cause periodic earthquake events. Until the beginning of the 21st Century, the New Madrid Fault received little scientific attention. There is little information available on this or any of the faults comprising this seismic zone, which involve Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky.

It is difficult to decipher this fault because its behavior is unique when compared to other sites around the world. It is also a significant distance from competing tectonic plates which have previously been considered a major cause of seismic activity.

New Madrid Fault's greatest activity is located 3 to 15 miles (5 to 25 km) beneath the surface of the earth. The activity is unique in that earthquakes are felt hundreds and sometimes thousands of miles away from the epicenter, and are consequently far more damaging. The reason such a wide range is affected is that the hundreds of miles of bedrock beneath much of central and eastern United States is very rigid and far less fractured. This stronger, more continuous soil does not absorb the waves. As a result, this allows the waves to travel farther. A comparable size earthquake would do considerably more damage if located on the New Madrid Fault vs. the San Andreas Fault.

The New Madrid Fault is most noted for the 1812 earthquake, which is the strongest earthquake ever recorded in modern times in the continental United States. It is estimated to have measured 8.0 on the Richter scale. It was preceded by three earthquakes, having magnitudes greater than 7.0. All four of these earthquakes took place within a three-month period between 1811 and 1812. The strongest of these events was felt as far away as New England. The intensity of that quake caused the Mississippi River to run backward for three days, creating permanent lakes and course changes in the river itself. While new lakes formed, such as Reelfront Lake, other lakes were permanently drained.

Some estimations put the New Madrid Fault in jeopardy of strong, damaging earthquakes, measuring over 7.0 magnitude every 300 to 500 years. Other research suggests a far shorter time frame. It is estimated that there are about 150 quakes per year in this region. Over 4,000 earthquakes have been identified since 1974.

Share
All Things Nature is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By AnswerMan — On Feb 07, 2015

Everybody talks about the San Andreas fault in California, but I personally think the largest earthquake in the US will happen along the New Madrid faultline. It happened in 1812, so why couldn't it happen again? Natural disasters have been an interest of mine for years, and I try to keep up with the latest earthquake news. I'm not the only one who believes the New Madrid fault is overdue for a major seismological event.

By Buster29 — On Feb 06, 2015

I live fairly close to the New Madrid fault, and every so often we have some minor tremors. A few years ago, a local scientist predicted there would be a significant earthquake within six months of his pronouncement, but it never did happen. The scientist had to admit his methods were a little less than scientific.

Share
https://www.allthingsnature.org/what-is-the-new-madrid-fault.htm
Copy this link
All Things Nature, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

All Things Nature, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.