Landslide and a Japanese Garden

Trip Start May 29, 2009
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Trip End Oct 03, 2009


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Flag of Canada  , Alberta,
Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Our day started early as we planned to cover a lot of distance outside of Waterton Lakes National Park. We drove to the Frank Slide Interpretive Center.  It is in the center of, and tells the story of Turtle Mountain.  Frank was a mining town, and in 1903, the entire side of Turtle Mountain slid into the valley, burying part of the town.  Within 100 seconds, the boulders covered 3 square kilometers, 30 meters deep.  The miners in the mountain were the lucky ones, as they found a way to dig themselves out of the side of the mine. 

After Frank Slide, we headed east to the town of Lethbridge.  The Nikko Yuko Japanese Garden was worth the long trip. It is a beautiful garden, but what made it exceptional is the explanation of how earth, water, fire, wind, and sky, were incorporated into the design. One of the most interesting structures, was a gazebo with a bell.  The weight of the bell actually holds the entire gazebo together.   The purpose of a Japanese garden is for one to feel the peaceful tranquility of the five elements together, and we left there relaxed and refreshed.

Switching gears from the slow, tranquil pace of the garden, we headed to the other side of town to see the famous high railroad bridge of Lethbridge.  The bridge is the longest and highest steel truss trestle bridge in North America.  At 1 mile long and 300 feet high, it is quite impressive.  Yesterday they celebrated the centennial of the bridge.
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