The serene, picturesque vista of Quake Lake in Southwestern Montana belies a violent history that led to its creation. On August 17, 1959, a violent earthquake with a 7.3 reading on the Richter scale shook Montana. An 80 million ton landslide careened down the Red Canyon mountains and formed a dam on the Madison River. The resulting geographical distortion created a 190-foot deep and six-mile long lake along Madison River.

At present, the lake and the area around it is an ideal tourist spot for vacationers. Its cool and calm water is a favorite among outdoorsmen who enjoy fishing, boating and kayaking. The lake can be reached via US-287 highway. A visitor center was set up to give visitors glimpses of the history of and activities within the lake area.