Turtle Mountain

Turtle Mountain, or the Turtle Mountains, is a geographical uplift in central North America, in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the southwestern portion of the Canadian province of Manitoba, approximately 62 miles (100 km) south of the city of Brandon on Manitoba Highway 10 / U.S. Route 281. It is a plateau about 2,000 feet (600 m) above sea level and 300 to 400 feet (90 to 120 m) above the surrounding countryside, extending approximately 20 miles (32 km) from north to south and 40 miles (64 km) from east to west. Rising 1,031 feet (314 m), North Dakota's most prominent peak, Boundary Butte, is located at the western edge of the plateau. The Turtle Mountains contain large amounts of timber, numerous lakes, and small deposits of low-grade manganese. One of the 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 Lake Metigoshe State Park, Turtle Mountain Provincial Park, two historic sites, and various hunting and fishing opportunities. The Turtle Mountains are the traditional territory of the Plains Ojibwe, as well as part of the Métis homeland. Rapid colonization and settlement in the 19th century, along with the establishment of a firm border between Canada and the United States, displaced many Indigenous peoples to and from the region. Some identify as the Turtle Mountain Chippewa, who are federally recognized and whose reservation is in the valley on the southeastern edge of the plateau.