Page 512 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

510  THE SOUTHWEST

Utah

Best known as world headquarters for the Mormon Church,
Utah is also home to some of the most remarkable land-
scapes in the US. The inhospitably rugged sandstone canyons
of the Colorado Plateau, which covers the southern half of
the state, have been preserved within a series of unforgettably
beautiful national parks, forests, and monuments. The
towering snowcapped peaks of the Wasatch Mountains in
the northern half of the state, a haven for skiers worldwide,
played host to the 2000 Winter Olympics. West of the mountains
sits the Mormon-dominated state capital Salt Lake City,
Utah’s only major city, bordered by its namesake lake.
Visitors looking out across the Great
6 Salt Lake City The Mormon Tabernacle choir Salt Lake
rehearsals are open to the public.
* 190,900. ~ £ @ n 90 South To the west of Temple Square, 7 Great Salt Lake
West Temple St, (801) 534-4900.
∑ visitsaltlake.com the amazing Family History Great Salt Lake State Park, I-80 exit 104.
Library holds records of n (801) 250-1898. Open Apr–Sep:
Pleasant and friendly Salt Lake Mormon family trees dating sunrise–sunset daily; Oct–Mar:
City makes a great stopover back to the mid-16th century. 7am–5pm daily. 7 limited.
for weary travelers between Eastward, the 1850 Beehive
Denver and San Francisco. House has been preserved as The largest salt lake in North
Although its name derives from it was when Mormon leader America, the Great Salt Lake
the undrinkable alkaline Great Brigham Young lived here. At its is a shallow remnant of the
Salt Lake that spreads to the entrance stands the stately 76-ft prehistoric Lake Bonneville.
west, the city actually has (23-m) Eagle Gate, capped by a Depending on the weather, the
abundant fresh water, thanks 4,000-pound (1,800 kg) eagle lake covers an area ranging
to the rain and snowmelt of with an impressive wingspan from 1,000 sq miles (2,590 sq
the Wasatch Range, which of 20 ft (6 m). To the north, the km) to 2,500 sq miles (6,477 sq
rises to the east. Founded and domed Utah State Capitol, km). The salt flats stretching
controlled by the Mormons modeled after the US Capitol, west from the lake to the
since 1847, the city spreads for features a series of exhibits on Nevada border are so hard
miles and miles along the base Utah’s history. and expansive that they have
of the snowcapped peaks. long been used as a proving
Apart from its spectacular R Mormon Tabernacle ground for auto mobile racers.
natural setting, Salt Lake City Temple Square. Tel (801) 531-1000. Apart from some algae and
is known as the spiritual base Open 9am–9pm daily. 7 microscopic brine shrimp, the
of the Mormon church, which ∑ templesquare.com lake itself supports almost no
has its worldwide headquarters E Family History Library life. However, the Antelope
in Temple Square downtown. 35 NW Temple St. Tel (866) 406-1830. Island State Park, located in
Here, the six spires of the main Open 8am–5pm Mon, 8am–9pm the middle of the lake, is home
Mormon temple and the Tue–Fri, 9am–5pm Sat. Always call in to resident herds of bighorn
famous oblong auditorium of advance. Closed Sun, Jan 1, Jul 4, sheep, mule deer, bison, and
the Mormon Tabernacle, built Thanksgiving, Dec 24, 25, 26. 7 its name sake, the pronghorn
in 1867, stand side by side. ∑ familysearch.org antelope. Access to the island,
lying about 40 miles (64 km)
northwest of Salt Lake City,
is by way of a 7-mile (11-km)
long causeway. Visitors can
camp or swim along the shore
or take guided lake cruises.
West from Salt Lake City,
toward the lake’s south shore,
the Great Salt Lake State Park
offers a broad, sandy beach with
a marina and obser vation deck.
} Antelope Island State Park
I-15 exit 335. Tel (801) 773-2941. Open
Oct–Apr: 6am–6pm daily; May–Sep:
The impressive “Eagle Gate” looking toward the Utah State Capitol 6am–10pm daily. & 7 limited.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp550–52 and pp553–5

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm