Utah is a state of the United States and is located in the west of the country. The country’s nickname, The Beehive State, alludes to the beehive that the Mormons chose as a symbol of diligence. The state of Utah has been strongly influenced by the Mormons to this day. The capital, Salt Lake City, was founded in 1847 by followers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The History of Utah – settlers, refugees and religion
The first European settlers to settle in Utah founded today’s capital, Salt Lake City, in 1847. Named after the large salt lake, it is located in the north of today’s state.
The settlers were Mormons and sought to bring as many followers of their church to the region as possible. Routes and carts were organized for new immigrants, and people sometimes walked 90 days to reach Utah. The harsh climate worried the travelers and not everyone reached their new home.
A comparatively large number of Mormons still live in Utah today.
At the request of the church, the state should have been called Deseret. However, this was prevented by the US government, the separation of church and state must be guaranteed. The name Deseret comes from the holy book of the Mormons.
Utah needed several attempts to become a United States. Some attempts failed due to Mormon conflicts with government mandates. Mormon leaders first had to abolish polygamy before Utah could become a state.
So much nature – so much to see
Utah has an impressive number of nature, state, and national parks, and natural monuments. The impressive and varied nature was recognized in many places as worth protecting and is now a tourist magnet. Despite the many visitors, Utah remains a vast area and lonely places without much hustle and bustle can be found easily.
Arches – national park – stone arches as a natural phenomenon
Arches National Park is in eastern Utah. His trademark is the impressive stone arches that have become the symbols of Utah. The stone arches were created as a result of the special climate. They were shaped by wind and water and are typical forms of a landscape affected by erosion.
The park is now the most visited national park in Utah.
The desert-like landscape of the stone arches alternates with grasslands, forests and the river banks of the Colorado River.
- Countryaah.com: Alphabetical list of all cities and towns in Utah. Also covers geographical map of Utah.
Utah is located in the west part of the United States. Known for hosting incredible national parks, the destination is the right choice to enjoy outdoor activities that nature can offer. During the summer, lakes and trails await the tourist – in the summer, the destination is very popular for those who want to camp, for example. In winter, the country is the right choice for those who want to visit ski resorts without having to spend small fortunes.
North of Utah are two must-see places for nature lovers: Canyon Logan and Bear Lake. The destinations offer tourists outdoor activities, trails, incredible scenery for photographs and accommodation that further enhance the experience. There, the campsites are very famous for offering bonfires, community spirit and theme parties.
Hovenweep National Monument
In the mountains on the border of Colorado and Utah is Hovenweep National Monument, which protects the unique old structures of the area’s original Native American inhabitants. The name of this settlement could be translated from the Panuit language as “Abandoned Valley”. In appearance, the structures are similar to the monument in Mesa Verde, but Hovenweep is much smaller, but still has its own special charm.
According to archaeologists, Hovenweep was built at the same time as the largest overhanging structures in Mesa Verde, i.e. between 600 and 750 AD However, there is one difference here, in Hovenweep the buildings are not built under the overhang, but on the rock. However, the construction process is the same, so it is likely that the houses were built by the same people. At that time, clay was used in the constructions to connect the individual stones. Small pebbles were then pushed into the clay to prevent it from cracking.
You can find the area on the edges of a small canyon, which can be completely walked around in about 2 hours. You can see about 10 remains of buildings that are in a relatively well-preserved condition. People even created terraced fields in the canyon that they could irrigate. There was also a waste dump here, where archaeologists uncovered a large number of bones, vessel fragments and other valuable artefacts. All these objects thus provided important information about the life of the inhabitants of that time. Hovenweep was abandoned around 1300, as was Mesa Verde. However, no one knows why this happened, it is probably due to climate changes at the time, which made it impossible for people to live in this area.
Not far from Hovenweep, there is a small camp where you can spend the night cheaply. However, you have to be careful about the wild animals that are found here. These include, for example, scorpions, rattlesnakes and even cougars.