Information on Utah
Utah is the land of extremes and is home to a diverse and vast range of landscapes, which include an even wider variety of outdoors activities and recreation opportunities to its visitors. Most of the state is situated on a plateau above 4,000ft (1,219m), but the elevations rise and fall spectacularly across snow-covered mountains and deep river canyons. The most significant sights and attractions have been formed by the dramatic forces of nature, creating ruggedly beautiful, multicoloured canyons, eroded rock sculptures, red desert plains, forested mountains and snow-capped peaks. Southern Utah has five breathtaking national parks, including Zion and Bryce Canyon, which draw the most visitors, but the lesser-known parks are just as spectacular.
Mormon pioneers were the first English settlers in Salt Lake in 1847 and a man called Brigham Young led them there. Today more than 70 percent of the population belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, congregants of which are known as the Mormons. The Mormon heritage defines the state's modern culture and many perceive Utah as a region stuck in a time warp due to the strong church influence, emphasis on family values, and a notoriously strict attitude regarding the drinking of alcohol. But the people are friendly and unpretentious, the crime rate is low and there are many beautiful places of interest to visit.
The modern metropolis of Salt Lake City is both a business hub in the US and the spiritual centre of the Mormon religion, which is home to the sacred Temple of the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Its proximity to the Wasatch Mountains makes it a popular base for winter and summer outdoor recreation, and nearby resorts like Park City, Sundance and Snowbird offer superb powder snow and Olympic-class skiing.
