Utah

The population of Utah is approximately 2,351,467 – and that makes for a lot of very lucky people. They live in a paradise for those who horseback riding, hiking, biking, camping, whitewater rafting, skiing, snowboarding, hunting, and fishing.

Utah is a year-round destination, which rarely has extreme temperatures. The north receives snow in winter – we all remember that the capital, Salt Lake City, hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics – but snow is also possible in the winter in the more temperate south.

Most of Utah is located on a plateau higher than 4,000-feet (1,219 meters) above sea level with mountains, canyons, and buttes creating a spectacular landscape of color and shape. Utah is the home of dozens of state and national parks, but, I have to admit, my favorite is also its oldest: Zion National Park designated in 1919 and located the southwest part of the state. Zion is home to numerous trails, and its slot canyon, the Narrows, formed by the Virgin River, attracts hikers from around the world. If you do the whole 13-mile (21-kilometer) trek, you will be wet as the trek involves wading – and even swimming – through deep areas. But since the Virgin is one of the few rivers in the west that is not dam controlled, its level depends on the snow pack of the area mountains, and the Narrows may also be closed due to flash floods. Other things to see in Zion: Weeping Rock (an alcove with a spring dripping ancient water) has a spectacular canyon view, the Emerald Pools waterfall, Angel's Landing, the summit of the canyon, and much, much more. Photographers – start your clicking!

With so much to see and do, it's no surprise that two of Utah's main employers are tourism and the service industry. Other major employers are mining, industry, and agriculture.

Utah was settled relatively recently (historically speaking) with the first humans arriving approximately 15,000 years ago. The name Utah is derived from the Native American Ute tribe, and means "people of the mountains." The first European visitors were Franciscan missionaries in the late 1700s, followed by the main wave of settlers, the Mormons, led by Brigham Young, who arrived in the Salt Lake area in 1847. At present, approximately 70% of the population is Mormon, and, due to the church's interest in the family, Mormons maintain the largest genealogical data collection in the world at the Family History Library in downtown Salt Lake City.

The state is the home of the Grammy-award winning Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Other arts organizations include the Utah Opera, the Utah Pioneer Theater Company, the Utah Symphony, and the Repertory Dance Theatre.

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