Salt Lake City, UT Summary

photo by gusto

Red-hued mountains surround it, but Salt Lake City is known for something other than the peaks that encircle it. The Great Salt Lake is the source of Salt Lake City’s popularity. Nature plays a large role in what defines the city, but so does religion. In particular, the Temple Square and Brigham Young University draw many people to the area. The Temple Square, world headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is as large as one city block, in the middle of Salt Lake City. Wrought-iron gates provide entrance into the square, with young Mormon women greeting visitors at each point of entry. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir makes its home within the Tabernacle itself. The choir performs weekly concerts, and there are daily organ recitals.

Outdoors enthusiasts often use the city as a home base from which to launch day trips for skiing in the winter and hiking, biking and horseback riding in the warmer months. The Temple Square area is home to some of the city’s best shopping; the Crossroads Plaza, an indoor mall, has a great variety of shops. You’ll also find great shops and galleries at the Historic Trolley Square. The most unique thing about the area, by far, is the Great Salt Lake. Its maximum depth is 35 feet and no fish live in its water. It is three to five times saltier than the ocean and can only support marine life such as brine shrimp and brine flies. The lake is the fourth largest terminal lake in the world. Despite its saltiness, people frequently use the lake for recreation.