Turtle Mountain (plateau)
Encyclopedia
Turtle Mountain, or the Turtle Mountains, is an area in central North America
, in the north-central portion of the U.S. state
of North Dakota
and southwestern portion of the Canadian
province
of Manitoba
. It is a plateau 2,000 ft (600 m) above sea level, 300 ft to 400 ft (90 m to 120 m) above the surrounding countryside, extending 20 mi (32 km) from north to south and 40 mi (64 km) from east to west.
It has timber, numerous lakes, and small deposits of low-grade manganese
. The Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation
is in a valley on the southeastern edge of the plateau, and the International Peace Garden
is also located in the region. Woodland overstory species are primarily green ash, quaking aspen, American elm, paper birch, bur oak, and balsam poplar.
One of the most popular and largest lakes in the Turtle Mountains is Lake Metigoshe
, which straddles the international border, with about one-eighth of the lake in Canada
. The region is home to a provincial park
, a state park
, two historic sites, and various hunting and fishing opportunities. Nearby is Bottineau Winter Park
, a modest alpine
ski area with a vertical drop of 250 feet (79 m).
In the late 1890s there was coal mining
in the Turtle Mountains near Old Deloraine town site in Manitoba. When higher quality coal was found elsewhere and the Trans-Canada Railway was built, the mines closed and the town moved off the mountain. The old town site is now covered by a man-made lake, made when the Turtle-Head Dam was built.
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, in the north-central portion of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
and southwestern portion of the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
of Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. It is a plateau 2,000 ft (600 m) above sea level, 300 ft to 400 ft (90 m to 120 m) above the surrounding countryside, extending 20 mi (32 km) from north to south and 40 mi (64 km) from east to west.
It has timber, numerous lakes, and small deposits of low-grade manganese
Manganese
Manganese is a chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. It has the atomic number 25. It is found as a free element in nature , and in many minerals...
. The Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation
Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation
Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation is an Indian Reservation located primarily in northern North Dakota. It is the land-base for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians ....
is in a valley on the southeastern edge of the plateau, and the International Peace Garden
International Peace Garden
The International Peace Garden is a 3.65 sq. mi. park located on the international border between Canada and the United States, in the state of North Dakota and the province of Manitoba. Established on July 14, 1932, the park plants over 150,000 flowers each year...
is also located in the region. Woodland overstory species are primarily green ash, quaking aspen, American elm, paper birch, bur oak, and balsam poplar.
One of the most popular and largest lakes in the Turtle Mountains is Lake Metigoshe
Lake Metigoshe State Park
- Location :The park is located on the shores of Lake Metigoshe in the Turtle Mountains, 14 miles northeast of Bottineau, along the US/Canadian border.- History :...
, which straddles the international border, with about one-eighth of the lake in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The region is home to a provincial park
Turtle Mountain Provincial Park
Turtle Mountain Provincial Park is a provincial park located in the southwestern portion of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Within it is the Adam Lake and Max Lake campgrounds. The Park is known for its bike trails, fishing, back country cabins and canoe routes...
, a state park
Lake Metigoshe State Park
- Location :The park is located on the shores of Lake Metigoshe in the Turtle Mountains, 14 miles northeast of Bottineau, along the US/Canadian border.- History :...
, two historic sites, and various hunting and fishing opportunities. Nearby is Bottineau Winter Park
Bottineau Winter Park
Bottineau Winter Park is a modest alpine ski area in the Turtle Mountains of north-central North Dakota, north of Bottineau. Approximately three miles south of the international border with Canada in Bottineau County, BWP covers and was started in 1969 by local businessmen.-Attractions:* 9...
, a modest alpine
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
ski area with a vertical drop of 250 feet (79 m).
In the late 1890s there was coal mining
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
in the Turtle Mountains near Old Deloraine town site in Manitoba. When higher quality coal was found elsewhere and the Trans-Canada Railway was built, the mines closed and the town moved off the mountain. The old town site is now covered by a man-made lake, made when the Turtle-Head Dam was built.
Communities in the area
- Boissevain, ManitobaBoissevain, ManitobaBoissevain is a town in Manitoba near the North Dakota border. It is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Morton. It is notable for its proximity to the International Peace Garden, a short drive south on Highway 10. The town also displays a number of wall murals as a tourist attraction...
- Deloraine, ManitobaDeloraine, ManitobaDeloraine is a farming town in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It is situated near the Turtle Mountains in the southwestern corner of the province. Located in the Westman Region, the town is 100 kilometres south of Brandon, the region's largest centre...
- Bottineau, North DakotaBottineau, North DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 2,336 people, 979 households, and 550 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,230.0 people per square mile . There were 1,114 housing units at an average density of 1,063.4 per square mile...
- Dunseith, North DakotaDunseith, North DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 739 people, 253 households, and 178 families residing in the city. The population density was 729.2 people per square mile . There were 282 housing units at an average density of 278.2 per square mile...
External links
- Bottineau Winter Park - official site