Reelfoot Lake

Reelfoot Lake
Reelfoot Lake Show map of Tennessee Reelfoot Lake Show map of the United States
Location	Lake / Obion counties, Tennessee, U.S.
Coordinates	36°23′20″N 89°23′20″W / 36.38889°N 89.38889°W / 36.38889; -89.38889
Type	sag pond
Basin countries	United States
U.S. National Natural Landmark
Designated	1965

Reelfoot Lake is a shallow natural lake located in the northwest portion of the U.S. state of Tennessee, in Lake and Obion Counties. Much of it is swamp-like, with bayou-like ditches (some natural, some man-made) connecting more open bodies of water called basins, the largest of which is called Blue Basin. Reelfoot Lake is noted for its bald cypress trees and its nesting pairs of bald eagles.

Public use of the lake and grounds has been preserved since it was acquired by the state of Tennessee in the early 20th century and the area was established as Reelfoot Lake State Park. Lake Isom, a similar, smaller lake to the immediate south, has been designated as a National Wildlife Refuge area. In 1966, Reelfoot Lake was designated as a national natural landmark by the National Park Service.^[1]