Utah in the western United States is its 11th largest state and borders Colorado, Nevada, Arizonaand Wyoming. The state was named after the Ute Indians, a North American Indian tribe.
In addition, Utah is the center of the Mormons (around 70% of the population belong to this religious community) and is nicknamed the “beehive state” in view of its high productivity. The Mormons began settling in 1847. With their strictly organized and controlled cultivation and work system, they transformed the desert land into a flourishing community.
According to aparentingblog, the capital Salt Lake City has over 180,000 residents, the next larger city is Ogden with around 80,000 residents. Geographically, there are 3 main regions: the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado Plateau and the Basin and Range region. The landscape ranges from deserts in the west to rivers and mountains in the north. Southern Utah has the largest number of national parks in the United States. There are also pre-Columbian ruins here. The states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona meet in the so-called “Four Corners Region”on each other. It is a landscape of canyons, plains, red sandstone formations and hills covered with juniper bushes. At the Four Corner Monument it is possible to stand in all four states at the same time or to touch all four states with hands and / or feet at the same time. In view of the dry climate, arable farming is only possible with additional irrigation. Therefore, in the agriculture of Utah, in addition to irrigated crops, mainly cattle ranching. But the real wealth of the state are the large deposits of copper, gold, silver, salt and oil.
Ute Indians
The Ute Indians were native to the Great Basin region of western Colorado, eastern Utah, and northern New Mexico. They were closely associated with the Bannock and Goisute tribes as well as the Paiute and Shoshonen groups. In contrast to these, however, the Ute lived like the Plains Indians and hunted large game such as deer and antelope. In the 18th century they were involved in revolts against the Spaniards and in the 19th century in fighting against the Americans. The Ute Indian population increased from a good 1,000 in 1950 to around 5,000 in three travel destinations: Southern Ute, Ute Mountain and Uintah-Ouray in the state of Utah.
Mormon
No state in the United States is as firmly in the hands of a religious group as Utah. In the rather inhospitable “ Great Basin “The Mormons settled in the mid-19th century after being driven across half of the United States by their numerous enemies. The sect was tightly organized theocratically and quickly gained economic weight due to its unity. The Mormon sect was founded by a certain Joseph Smith in 1830 after the Angel Mormon (Maroni) appeared to him and gave him two gold tablets. The sect was particularly noticeable to other religious communities because of the openly practiced polygamy. Every man was allowed to have as many women as he could feed. In a country with a chronic shortage of women, this led to clashes.
Landmarks
Arches National Park
Archnes National Park has the largest collection of natural stone arches on earth. About 2000 such arches can be seen from the 60 km long park road.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Thousands of fine rocky peaks rise like an amphitheater. We have described details about this national park in detail.
Canyonlands National Park
Rock wilderness created by wind and water with a maze of canyons, river meanders and rock monuments. Two of the southwest’s major rivers meet here, the Colorado and the Green River. Together they continue their journey as the Colorado River in a series of rapid rapids. The Canyonlands National Park area is divided into three areas:
Island in the Sky District: The most visited part of the national park, only 40 miles from Moab, suitable for day trips and multi-day trips into the hinterland, asphalt driveway to the park part; the island-like highlands offer numerous panoramic views: Buck Canyon Overlook, Murphy Point, Grand View Point Overlook at the end of the park road; After branching off the park road, Upheavel Dome can be circled on a 2.5 km long trail and also climbed (almost 1,400 m high)
Needles District: Cedar Mesa sandstone dominates the landscape; large number of multicolored rock towers; various nature trails; Elephant Hill with a view of the Needles can be reached by normal car.
Maze District: The loneliest area of the national park that requires a four-wheel drive car on gravel roads for multi-day tours.
Capitol Reef National Park
Reddish-brown sandstone formations and rock walls covered with white-gray rock layers give the park its name. The Waterpocket Fold is a hot, dry landscape with eroded, elongated mountain folds, in whose depressions and mountain folds rainwater collects.
Lake Powell & Glen Canyon
The second largest reservoir in North America with numerous bays, many houseboats.
Zion National Park
A contrasting western landscape of narrow canyons and wide desert, impressive sandstone formations and monumental rock walls, over which veil-like waterfalls tumble.
DinosaurNational Monument
The largest find ever found in a quarry dinosaur bones. The park, which is also worth visiting as such, extends into Colorado.
CedarBreaksNational Monument
The oldest trees on earth.
Great Salt Lake
The second saltiest lake on earth after the Dead Sea, about 12,000 square kilometers.
Salt Lake City
The Mormon Temple from the 19th century and the Salt Lake Tabernacle with a mighty organ stand in Historic Temple Square.
Four CornerMonument
The states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona meet in the so-called “Four Corners Region”. It is a landscape of canyons, plains, red sandstone formations and hills covered with juniper bushes. At the Four Corner Monument it is possible to stand in all four states at the same time or to touch all four states with hands and / or feet at the same time.
GoosenecksState Park
Goosenecks State Park is near Mexican Hat and has no entry fee. The view of the loops of the meandering San Juan River is wonderful and also meets photographic requirements (photos should be taken before the late afternoon if possible). The river covers almost 10 km over a distance of only 3 km as the crow flies. It has buried itself almost 400 m deep and exposed rock layers up to 300 million years old, the Paradox Formation and the Honacker Trail Formation above.
Valley of the Gods
From US 163 and UT 261 take the signposted junction to the Valley. The Valley of the Gods is about 50 miles / 80 km north of Monument Valley on US 163. The landscape is similar to Monument Valley, but there are significantly fewer visitors and entry is free. The area is accessed by a 17 mile / 27 km long dirt road, i.e. an unpaved road for which you should have a four-wheel drive vehicle. The runway leads back to US 163.
Climate and Weather
The climatic conditions in Utah range from mild, even hot summers to freezing cold winters. Temperatures drop from north to south-east. Generally it gets cooler with sunset. The average summer temperatures are between 16 and 35 degrees Celsius. Winter temperatures fluctuate around 4 to 7 degrees on average, but can also drop below 0 degrees.
From July to September, storms can turn the country roads into mud traps. In the north of the state there is significant rainfall (up to 1,300 mm / sqm), while the south is very dry (annual rainfall only up to 130 mm / sqm). In the north there is also snow; Utah is a preferred winter sports destination. This is where the 2002 Winter Olympics will be held.
