Utah is bordered by Idaho and Wyoming on the north and by Arizona on the south. On the east, Utah is bordered by Colorado. On the west, Utah is bordered by Nevada.
Major rivers in Utah include the Colorado River and the Green River.
Utah is divided into three main geographic regions: the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado Plateau and the Basin and Ridge Region.
The Rocky Mountains occupy a V-shaped section of northeastern Utah and include the Uinta and the Wasatch mountains. The Uinta range is the only section of the Rockies that runs east and west rather than north and south. It contains Kings Peak, the highest point in Utah at 13,528 feet.
The Colorado Plateau covers most of the southern and eastern sections of Utah. It is characterized by broad high country cut by deep canyons and valleys. The area is rugged and largely uninhabitable except in river valleys. Although travel in the area is difficult, the majestic views of Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks Canyon and Zion Canyon are memorable.
Western Utah is part of the Great Basin region and was once submerged beneath an extensive Pleistocene lake. When the lake finally subsided, it left behind a salty desert, wide expanses of arid soil, and a series of lakes, including the Great Salt Lake. This lake, because of evaporation, now has a concentration of mineral salts several times greater than the ocean. Gulls, pelicans, and blue herons live around the lake and on its islands, and much of the lake shore is bordered by mud and salt flats. The Basin and Ridge Region is one of the driest areas in the United States.
Temperatures and rainfall in Utah vary greatly. In the mountains, temperatures are cool and mountain tops may remain snow covered year round. In the desert areas, it can be very hot. Similarly, rainfall in the mountains tends to be frequent, but areas around the Great Salt Lake Desert may receive less than 5 inches of rain per year.
Utah’s southeastern corner meets the corners of three other states: Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. Referred to as “Four Corners,” it is the only place in the United States where it is possible to stand in four states at the same time!
Utah is bordered by Idaho and Wyoming on the north and by Arizona on the south. On the east, Utah is bordered by Colorado. On the west, Utah is bordered by Nevada.
Major rivers in Utah include the Colorado River and the Green River.
Utah is divided into three main geographic regions: the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado Plateau and the Basin and Ridge Region.
The Rocky Mountains occupy a V-shaped section of northeastern Utah and include the Uinta and the Wasatch mountains. The Uinta range is the only section of the Rockies that runs east and west rather than north and south. It contains Kings Peak, the highest point in Utah at 13,528 feet.
The Colorado Plateau covers most of the southern and eastern sections of Utah. It is characterized by broad high country cut by deep canyons and valleys. The area is rugged and largely uninhabitable except in river valleys. Although travel in the area is difficult, the majestic views of Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks Canyon and Zion Canyon are memorable.
Western Utah is part of the Great Basin region and was once submerged beneath an extensive Pleistocene lake. When the lake finally subsided, it left behind a salty desert, wide expanses of arid soil, and a series of lakes, including the Great Salt Lake. This lake, because of evaporation, now has a concentration of mineral salts several times greater than the ocean. Gulls, pelicans, and blue herons live around the lake and on its islands, and much of the lake shore is bordered by mud and salt flats. The Basin and Ridge Region is one of the driest areas in the United States.
Temperatures and rainfall in Utah vary greatly. In the mountains, temperatures are cool and mountain tops may remain snow covered year round. In the desert areas, it can be very hot. Similarly, rainfall in the mountains tends to be frequent, but areas around the Great Salt Lake Desert may receive less than 5 inches of rain per year.
Utah’s southeastern corner meets the corners of three other states: Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. Referred to as “Four Corners,” it is the only place in the United States where it is possible to stand in four states at the same time!