Reelfoot Lake State Park in far northwestern Tennessee consists of ten sections around a lake created by the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811 and 1812, when land subsided and flooding left a distinctive submerged forest. Established in 1925 to preserve land around the lake, the 280-acre park lies within a much larger 25,000-acre wildlife refuge that includes extensive water and wetland habitat. It is important both for recreation and for wildlife, especially shorebirds, migratory birds, and golden and bald eagles. A successful 1981 eagle introduction helped make it a leading place for eagle watching, while boating, fishing, hiking, and nature observation remain major attractions.