Frank Slide

At 4:10 AM on 29 April 1903, 74 million tonnes of rock crashed down the east slope of Turtle Mountain in the CROWSNEST PASS region of Alberta, burying a mine entrance and the eastern outskirts of Frank, NWT (Alberta), sweeping 1.6 km across the valley and covering roads, railways, houses and farms. After 13 hours of heroic effort, 17 men entombed in the mine, fighting a dwindling air supply, dug a new shaft and emerged to freedom. Twenty-three men, women and children were rescued from the rubble, but at least 70 others died in the sudden disaster. The town was evacuated as a precaution against further slides. When none occurred the residents returned and reopened the mine. A new coal mine was opened north of the mountain. In 1913, the old mine was closed and in 1918 fires closed the entire workings. Turtle Mountain is a naturally unstable slope, and earthquakes, erosion and coal mining combined to cause the rockslide. Turtle Mountain is now monitored daily for any movement.

See also DISASTERS; ROCKSLIDE.

Author FRANK W. ANDERSON

Suggested Reading
Frank W. Anderson, Turtle Mountain Disaster (1986).

Links to Other Sites
Turtle Mountain Monitoring Project & Field Laboratory
About the Turtle Mountain Monitoring Project, which involves geological studies related to the development of an avalanche early warning system in the South Peak area. Check out the stunning Turtle Mountain web cams, slide show, and videos. Also provides an illustrated overview of key equipment used in this project. An Alberta Geological Survey website.

The 1903 Frank Slide, Alberta, Canada : A Review Of One Hundred Years Of Investigation
A brief academic article about the geological forces responsible for the Frank Slide and similar phenomena (a pdf file). From the European Geophysical Society.

The Mountain That Moves
An illustrated article about the monitoring of geological activity in Turtle Mountain. From the University of Calgary "OnCampus Weekly.”

When Coal Was King
The multimedia website “When Coal was King: Coal Mining in Western Canada” explores the history of Alberta’s coal mining industry. Check out the glossary and educational activities. From the Alberta Online Encyclopedia.

Atlas of Alberta Railways
Climb aboard the "Atlas of Alberta Railways" website for a fascinating multimedia tour of Alberta history. This site will take you to a great collection of fascinating maps, old newspaper articles, scenic photographs, charts, graphs, and much more. From the University of Alberta Press.