|
Begin your virtual tour of Utah State by clicking on any of the above entry points,
and follow roads or trails through a network of linked images.
Utah, legendary home of the Mormon pioneers is a colorful land of diverse geography,
numerous recreational resources, quiet towns and flourishing cities. There are five national parks in Utah, Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion. Beyond these most of the southeast part of the state
is a fascinating wonderland of rock formations, cliffs and mountains. Much of the northeastern
part of the state is covered with forested mountains at the heart of which is the Uinta Mountains which reach elevations above 13,000 feet. The northwestern part of the state is dominated by the Great Salt Lake, which is a the remnant of an inland sea which at one time covered much of the state. Because of this, the lake is saltier than the ocean and salt flats cover a large area to the west.
The Mormon settlement began July 24, 1847 when Brigham Young and others entered the Salt Lake Valley, where he looked at the then barren landscape and declared "This is the Place." Within a few years they built Salt Lake City into a thriving city and settled much of the
mountain west. In 1848, after the pioneers arrived, Utah became a U.S. possession,
acquired from Mexico after the Mexican War. In 1850 the Territory of Utah was organized,
and on January 4, 1896, Utah became the 45th state. It is the eleventh largest state in
land area with 84,916 square miles.
The Wasatch Front is where the jagged edge of the mountains meets the basins of the Great Salt Lake, and is the home to cities such as Salt Lake City, Provo, Orem, Ogden and Logan, which thrive on the water flowing out of the mountains into an otherwise arid land.
| Motto: | Industry |
| State Bird: | California Seagull |
| State Flower: | Sego Lily |
| State Tree: | Blue Spruce |
|
|
|
