Utah is a state in the United States in the Mountain States group, located in the Rocky Mountains. The capital and largest city is Salt Lake City. Other major cities are Ogden and Provo. Utah became the 45th state admitted to the United States on January 4, 1896. About 80% of the population lives in the Wasatch Front, centered on Salt Lake City. Utah has vast, almost uninhabited spaces, making it the sixth most urbanized state in the US. Utah is one of the most religiously homogeneous states in the US. About 60% of the state’s residents are reported to be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which greatly influences the state’s culture and daily life.Utah is a transportation hub, information technology and research, government services, mining, Utah is also a major tourist center.
STATE NAME
The state of Utah got its name from the name of the tribe of Ute Indians (ute or yuttahih), who have long lived in the territory of the modern US states of Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico. The name of this tribe means “living above” or “living in the mountains.”
GEOGRAPHY
The state of Utah is located in the Western United States and belongs to the mountainous states of the United States. The area of Utah is 219,887 km2 (thirteenth among US states). Utah borders the states of Nevada in the west, Idaho in the north, Wyoming in the northeast, Colorado in the east and Arizona in the south. Utah is one of the states of the “four corners” region (just like Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona), the only place in the United States of America where the boundaries between the states pass along meridians and parallels. Utah is located within the United States Mountain Time Zone. Utah is characterized by a variety of relief and, accordingly, large differences in natural conditions. On the territory of the state of Utah, there are three main physical and geographical regions – the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado Plateau and the Ranges and Valleys.
CLIMATE
Utah has an arid and even desert climate, with very hot summers and fairly cold winters. The least precipitation falls in the deserts in the northwest of the state, and most of all – in the mountains, in particular on the western slopes of the Wasatch Range (where most of the population of Utah is concentrated). The Great Salt Lake has a significant influence on the weather, evaporation from the vast water surface of which often causes snowfalls (the so-called “snow effect”). In winter, sudden temperature changes are also not uncommon, due to which thick fogs can persist in the valleys of Utah for a long time (for weeks).
The average temperature of the coldest month in the capital and largest city of the state, Salt Lake City, ranges from -6°C to 3°C, and the hottest – from 18°C to 34°C. In the city of St. George in southwestern Utah, temperatures range from -2°C to 13°C in January and 21°C to 38°C in July. In the east of the state, in the city of Moab, temperatures typically range from -8°C to 6°C in winter and from 17°C to 37°C in summer.
ECONOMY
The economy of Utah is based on mining, tourism, industry and agriculture, as well as on US federal government spending (primarily on the maintenance of military installations). Thanks to the high dynamics of development, including in the field of innovation and information technology, Utah occupies a leading position in the Forbes magazine’s lists of “best states for business” (first place in 2012).
Significantly affecting the state’s economy are the characteristics of the Utah population, most of whom are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mommons). So, for example, in Utah, more than in any other US state, charitable spending by wealthy citizens. This is due to the Mormon rule about deducting a tenth of income in favor of the church. Volunteering is also very developed here, that is, voluntary and free work for the benefit of society. The most important and constantly developing sector of the Utah economy is tourism.
TOURISM
The main attraction of the state are the unique features of its nature. Utah has five extremely picturesque national parks (more only in Alaska and California): Zion, Canyonlands, Arches, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, and many other reserves.
In addition, many tourists are attracted annually by the various festivals and events held in the state (including the famous races on the Bonneville Salt Flats), historical and architectural monuments (in particular, the Temple of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, which is included in the list of the most popular US attractions and the mountain resorts of Utah (especially since the 2002 Winter Olympics).
Largest Counties in Utah
Settled by Mormons in the 1840s, Utah became a state in 1896. It is known for its unique desert landscapes and significant Mormon population. Utah has 29 counties. 10 Largest Counties in Utah 1. Salt Lake County County Facts Population:…
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