Have you ever got a chance to visit a place where one half is mountainous and green while the other half is red and rocky? If not, then Utah definitely deserves a place on the top of your list. With some unique natural wonders and top-rated skiing options/ski resorts, this place is considered as one of the most incredible places to visit. The rich history, culture, and popular festivals of this place are something one cannot miss. There are a few theories and many fun facts about Utah and how it got its name. History says that the name comes from the Ute tribe, which means “people of the mountains”. Others say that the name came from the Apache word “yuttahih” which means “those that are higher up.”
Come join us while we dig into some of the interesting fun facts about Utah, USA.
Geography And Landforms Of Utah
Utah is located in the Mountain West region of the United States. The 54,340,240 acres is covered with natural rock formations, beautifully colored canyons and snow-capped peaks. Kings Peak, which stands at 13,528-feet high, is the highest point in Utah. Approximately 33 per cent of Utah is desert and three per cent of the surface is covered by water. Utah’s geography is divided into three major land areas; the Rocky Mountains, the Basin and Ridge Region, and the Colorado Plateau. Each of these land areas has different topographic, geologic, and geomorphic characteristics, one different from the other.
Climatic Conditions of Utah
Utah basically has a warm, dry, arid and desert climate. It has three climatic regions–humid (high mountains and plateaus), semi-arid (lower basins, valleys, and flatlands), and sub-humid to semi-arid (the transitional places in between) with each region covering about one-third of the place. The summers here are warm and dry while winters are snowy and freezing cold. With the lowest humidity percentages, Utah is one of the driest states in the country.
34 Unique And Interesting Facts About Utah
Apart from the stunning natural landmarks, there are some unique fun facts about Utah that are going to blow your mind.
Check out these interesting fun facts about Utah listed below:
1. Utah, the 13thlargest state in the United States, has the highest literacy rate.
2. Manufacturing, mining, aerospace, digital media, distribution and tourism are some of the major industries of Utah.
3. Utah has The Greatest Snow on Earth®. The snow here is known to be some of the lightest and driest than in other states.
4. making it the second-driest state in the United States after Nevada.
5. The oldest operating amusement park in the American West, Lagoon, is located in Farmington, Utah.
6. Utah’s Great Salt Lake is four times saltier than any of the other world’s oceans.
7. January 13th is considered the golden winter day as on this day it’s expected to receive the highest snowfall.
8. The only place in the United States where four states (Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona) come together is in the southeastern corner of Utah.
9. Sitting between Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Wyoming and Idaho, Utah covers 84,899 mi², (219,887 km²).
10. Utah is home to five national parks, nine national monuments, five national forests and two national recreation areas.
11. Utah has a town called “Levan” which is in the centre. Levan is “navel” when read backwards.
12. Walter Frederick Morrison, who invented the Frisbee, was born in Richfield, Utah.
13. Utah is often called the “Crossroads of the West” because it is centrally located in the Intermountain West.
14. 55% of the people in Utah are Mormons; it has more Mormons than any other state.
15. With a cooking pot and the Dutch oven, as one of its state symbols, Utah is the only state that has these cooking items as its symbol.
16. Salt Lake City in Utah has more plastic surgeons per capita than any other place in the United States.
17. As 33% of residents of Utah are below the age of 18, this place has the youngest population in the US.
18. Approx 82% of Utahns are of European descent, 12% Hispanics or Latinos and the remaining with Asians, African Americans, and Native Americans.
19. The iconic fried chicken recipe from KFC wasn’t first served in Kentucky but in a cafe 1,500 miles west in Salt Lake City, Utah.
20. Couples marry at a very younger age in Utah than in any other state in the country and due to this, Utah’s divorce rate is slightly higher than the U.S. average.
21. Lester Wire, a police officer from Salt Lake City, invented the electric traffic light.
22. Natural resources like potassium, molybdenum, lead, zinc, copper, gold, silver, natural gas and oil are found in abundance in Utah.
23. With high volunteer rates for various charities, Utah is considered the most generous state in America.
24. Some famous personalities from Utah include actresses Loraine Day, Maude Adams and Roseanne Barr, actor James Woods, singer-songwriter Jewel, basketball player and coach Byron Scott, and Butch Cassidy, to name a few.
25. Utah’s state gem is topaz, an aluminium fluorosilicate that is hard as a diamond, which is found in Beaver, Juab and Tooele counties.
26. Cherry, being the most economically beneficial fruit when compared to other fruits, has won its place as Utah’s state fruit.
27. One of the unique features of Zion National Park is its expansive canyon averaging 2,000 feet deep.
28. The best spot for seeing Utah’s show-stopping colorful rocks is the 200-million-year-old natural “staircase” called the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
29. The Trembling Giant in the Fishlake National Forest shares a single root system which is made up of 47,000 genetically identical trees.
30. Utah’s Arches National Park is popular for containing more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches. The hikers who discovered these arches had been granted the privilege of naming them.
31. It is believed the FBI’s secret vault holds various Utah secrets like sightings of UFOs in Utah, a death threat against Lady Bird Johnson, confidential information on serial killer Ted Bundy and much more.
32. The Trembling Giant, the world’s oldest and heaviest living organism is in Utah.
33. Millions of years ago, Utah was a hotbed of dinosaur activity and they even have a dinosaur called ‘Utahraptor’ named after it.
34. Gilgal Sculpture Garden in Salt Lake City has a Joseph Smith sphinx. What makes it interesting and one of the fun facts about Utah is that anyone can sit on the lap of the sphinx for a photo.
Also Read: Stargazing in Utah: The Best Way To Explore the Dark Skies And Reach To The Stars
Utah is quite a place to visit with so many interesting and unusual facts. If you come across some fun facts about Utah that we missed do share them in the comment box below.
Utah State is fondly called as the “Beehive State” as it represents the symbol of hard work and industry.
Utah has a population of 3.42 million, making it the 30th largest state in the US.
Utah’s snow is usually dry and powdery due to the combination of desert-like climate and high elevation. It’s believed that the snow here is best for skiing and riding.
