The Legends of Reelfoot Lake
Episode description
Along the northwestern edge of Tennessee sits Reelfoot Lake. The only natural lake in the state, it's a flooded cypress forest that has more in common with the bayous of the deep south than other more open and expansive lakes of the surrounding area.
Yet this lake dates back only two centuries and owes its creation to the massive New Madrid earthquakes that rocked the area in 1811-1812 and caused the Mississippi River to temporarily flow backward. Yet according to local legend the cause of those earthly upheavals was more than simply nature. Legend says that the origins of Reelfoot Lake can be traced back to the actions of a Chief of the Chickasaw people who once inhabited the now submerged land.
Want to Listen to Southern Gothic Ad-Free?
- Patreon: Ad-Free Episodes, Premium Releases, Bonus Content & More
- Southern Gothic Premium on Spotify
- Southern Gothic Premium on Apple Podcasts
- Into History: History Without Interruption
Connect with Southern Gothic Media:
- Website: SouthernGothicMedia.com
- Merch Store: https://www.southerngothicmedia.com/merch
- Pinterest: @SouthernGothicMedia
- Facebook: @SouthernGothicMedia
- Instagram: @SouthernGothicMedia
- X: @SoGoPodcast
Advertise on this podcast: press@southerngothicmedia.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices