Reelfoot Lake

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/reelfoot-lake

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Reelfoot Lake?Approximately 15,000 acres
2. What is the location?Northwestern Tennessee, USA (Lake and Obion Counties)
3. What is the geological formation?Created by the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812
4. What caused Reelfoot Lake to be created?The New Madrid earthquakes in 1811-1812 made the land sink, and the Mississippi River filled the depressions, forming the lake.
5. Why is Reelfoot Lake so shallow?The lake is only about 5-6 feet deep on average because it was formed in a low area and stays shallow due to the river and rain.

Subsidence: The sinking of the land's surface, often caused by geological activity or groundwater extraction.
Biodiversity: The variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
Wetland Conservation: The practice of protecting and managing areas like swamps, marshes, and bogs for ecological and human benefit.
Hydrological Network: The interconnected system of water bodies, including rivers, lakes, and streams, within a region.