Arches National Park has over 2,000 stone arches. These were molded naturally over millions of years. Underground, layers of sandstone formed on top of salt. As more stone formed, some was pushed up into a dome, or curved, shape. Rain, ice, and wind then caused some of the domes to crack, forming the arches we can see today. Arches National Park draws over one million visitors per year. It is just one of many National Parks to enjoy in Utah.
Photo Credit: Ropelato Photography; EarthScapes/Moment Open/Getty Images
The Mormon Salt Lake Temple in Salt Lake City took 40 years to build.
Utah was settled by Mormon pioneers in 1847. Mormons are members of a religious group known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Today, there are over 5,300 Mormon churches in Utah.
Before the pioneers arrived, Utah was inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Ute, Shoshone, and Navajo. Some people think the state of Utah was named after the Ute. The Ute people still live in Utah today. Salt Lake City became the capital of Utah in 1856. When Utah joined the United States in 1896, it became the 45th state.
Photo Credit: Ropelato Photography; EarthScapes/Moment Open/Getty Images
At Four Corners Monument, one person can be in four states at the same time: Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico!
Four Corners is the only place in the United States where four states meet at one place. Utah is one of the states that meets at Four Corners. The other states are Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.
To mark Four Corners, a monument was placed there in 1912. This was in the shape of a circle. Each quarter of the circle is in a different state. The monument has been replaced and updated several times. Now it involves many other markers such as state seals and flags. Four Corners Monument sits on Navajo lands. The Navajo Nation maintain, or take care of, the Four Corners Monument.
Photo Credit: Nigel Killeen/Moment Open/Getty Images
More Facts about Utah
- Before Salt Lake City, the capital city of Utah was Fillmore.
- Utah was the first place in the United States where women cast ballots or voted.
- The state bird is the California gull.
- The state flower is the sego lily.
- Utah’s state cooking pot is the Dutch oven. It is the only state to have state cooking ware.
What Do You Think? What would you like to learn about or do in Utah?
Photo Credit: McGraw Hill
