Last updated on February 7th, 2023
37. Home to North Shore Monster
The Great Salt Lake, located in Salt Lake City supposedly has one or two monsters that were seen in the year 1877. The monster is said to have a head like that of a horse and a crocodile body. Rumors have it that the North Shore Monsters may have been brought by a businessman who introduced two whales into the lake in 1875. The two disappeared without a trace.
38. The Games Arcade
At the Game Grid Arcade, West valley City, more than 55 games with 50 different cabinets are played. The available options include modern games such as Super Street Fighter, Terminator Salvation, and classical ones e.g. Asteroids and PAC-Man.
39. Provo- A College Town with Popping Food Scene
Being home to two major universities, Provo has tons of youngsters who do not drink alcohol. So do not expect to find many clubs and bars. But the culinary scene is huge, partially influenced by Mormonism. Find unique dishes from Mexican fruit pops/kronuts, crisscross hotdogs, sushi, pizza with serrano and honey, Belgian fries/pomme frites, Czech pastries, and Indian food. Dine in peculiar restaurants where they serve specialty sodas that can be mistaken for alcohol.
40. The Majesty of a Canyon
Provo Canyon is only a few minutes from the town of Orem. It carries the sublime beauty of Mount Timpanogos, which is part of the Wasatch Range. The canyon is a fun spot no matter the season with an elevation of 8,000 feet above. Adventurers come here to bike, fish, hike, or simply relax on the lush grass at one of the 6 parks of the canyon.
41. The Biggest Snow on Earth
Sandy city has some of the best skiing areas, particularly near the Wasatch Mountains. The city is set perfectly under the shadow of those mountains. This makes it the coolest ski spot in the state of Utah.
42. The Iron Road of Mount Ogden
The protected Mount Ogden can be explored through the Ferrata route. Elite mountain climbers visit here to get adrenaline rush on a ladder while attached to safety cables. There is no need for knots and ropes. Just carry some hiking boots and enjoy a guided tour whether in a group or solo.
43. Dinosaur Discovery
At Johnson Farm, there is a Dinosaur Discovery Site where the ancient creatures once inhabited. You get a chance to see where they used to roam around. Thousands of dinosaur fossils have preserved at the Early Jurassic Lake.
44. Layton, a Former Outgrowth of Kaysville
Layton is the biggest city in Davis County, bordered by Wasatch Mountains on one side and the Great Salt Lake on the other. The Mormon pioneers initially settled at Kaysville-Layton. William Kay, John H. Green, and Edward Phillips brought their families in 1850. Other families followed suit and the Kaysville area attained an outgrowth that was not formally planned so it was considered an unincorporated independent community. It was until 1920 that Layton was officially incorporated.
45. The Soccer City
South Jordan is home to an 80,000 square feet soccer facility. The building houses two futsal fields, two indoor fields plus a lounge. Visitors who come to party can rent a designated party area.
About the Flag of Utah
1. Design and Symbolism
The flag of Utah showcases the character of its people, as well as its devotion to the United States.
It features the seal of the state on a navy blue field. The circular seal has a thin gold border. At the bottom is “1896,” the year of Utah’s admission into the Union.
The center has a white shield with bees flying around a hive, surrounded by sego lilies. The flowers represent peace, while the beehive symbolizes hard work. The words “INDUSTRY” and “UTAH, 1847” are also on the shield.
The bald eagle, a symbol of the US, rests at the top to offer protection. Meanwhile, two US flags reiterate Utah’s strong commitment and support to the Union. A total of 45 stars highlight its status as the 45th state.
2. Adoption
Utah adopted the current flag on February 16, 2011. It is a refinement of the original 1903 design with full color and manufacturing corrections.
3. Technical Details
The flag uses a proportion of 5:8. Note that the top of the shield has six arrows representing Native American tribes in Utah. They include the Navajo, Goshute, Shoshone, Paiute, Northern Utes, and White Mesa Utes.
4. History
The 1903 Design
In 1896, the state legislature adopted an official seal designed by Harry Edwards. In 1903, Utah created its first flag featuring this seal on a blue field, just in time for a Missouri exposition. It was a joint project of Gov. Heber Wells and the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The 1913 Design
A mistake became part of history. The Sons and Daughters of Utah Pioneers wanted to give a state flag to the new battleship USS Utah. However, the eager manufacturer did not make a faithful copy. It had an extra gold border around a supposedly white shield. The symbols also came in full color. Instead of remaking the flag, a representative named Annie Wells Cannon moved to accommodate the updated design by changing the law.
The 2011 Correction
In 1922, a flag maker stitched “1847” above “1896” instead of the bottom of the shield. It took several decades for someone to point it out. This time, the legislature made the necessary correction that resulted in the current flag. They also marked March 9 as Utah Flag Day.
5. Flag Facts
The sego lily in the flag is the state flower. It is one of the few plants that thrive in the arid climate of the Great Basin. It helped early settlers survive harsh winters.
Many doubted the loyalty of Mormon settlers to the US, delaying Utah’s admission to the Union. Including American flags in the state flag is a continuing reassurance.
6. Other Flags
125th Anniversary Flag
In 2021, Utah celebrated its 125th year of statehood. They approved a commemorative flag with a golden beehive inside a blue circle. A white star under it represents the state. The blue triangle above and the red triangle below illustrate the Utah moniker “Crossroads of the West.” It refers to the vital link of the Transcontinental Railroad at Promontory Point.
The Redesign Initiatives
In 2021, the state legislature passed a bill to assess the necessity of flag redesign. It is the first successful attempt after a series of similar initiatives over the last few years.
In 2022, the Utah government received over 7,000 design submissions from the public. Twenty of these are in the semi-finals, and residents can provide feedback before the final deliberations.
Utah – Quick facts and state symbols
| State Abbreviation | UT |
|---|---|
| State Capital | Salt Lake City |
| Largest City | Salt Lake City |
| State Size | Total (Land + Water): 84,899 sq miles; Land Only: 82,144 sq miles |
| Population | 3,417,734 (Estimate July 1, 2023 from United States Census Bureau) |
| Statehood | January 4, 1896 |
| State rank by population | 30th |
| State rank by date of formation | 45th |
| State rank by area | 13th |
| Number of Counties | 29 |
| Demonym | Utahn or Utahan |
| Bordering States | Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Wyoming |
| Official Language | English |
| Highest Point | Kings Peak 13,534 ft (4,120.3 m) |
| Lowest point | Beaver Dam Wash at Arizona border 2,180 ft (664.4 m) |
| Length | 350 miles (560 km) |
| Width | 270 miles (435 km) |
| Governor | Spencer Cox (R) |
| Lieutenant Governor | Deidre Henderson (R) |
| Electoral Votes | 6 |
| State Motto | Industry |
| State Nickname | Beehive State |
| % Water | 3.25 |
| Noble prize Winners | Paul D. Boyer (Chemistry, 1997) |
| Famous people | Steve Young (Pro Football player) John "Cat" Thompson (Basketball player) Roseanne Barr (Actress) Jewel (Singer) |
| State animal | Rocky Mountain elk |
| State Bird | California gull |
| State Cooking Pot | Dutch Oven |
| State Emblem | Beehive |
| State fish | Bonneville Cutthroat Trout |
| State Fossil | Allosaurus |
| State fruit | Cherry |
| State Flower | Sego Lily |
| State gem | Topaz |
| State Insect | Honey Bee |
| State mineral | Copper |
| State rock | Coal |
| State Vegetable | Sugar Beet |
| Longitude | 109° 3′ W to 114° 3′ W |
| Latitude | 37° N to 42° N |
| Time Zone | Mountain Time Zone |
| Website | utah.gov |
| Area Codes | 385, 435, 801 |
| Table last updated | December 21, 2023 |