Utah – The Beehive State – Directory of Maps

Utah’s history differs significantly from that of the other states. Before the arrival of Europeans to the New World, the area was populated by Indian tribes such as the Uintah, Ouray and Utes, after whom the state is named. On July 24, 1847, the first Mormon settlers arrived in the area, far removed from other American settlements at the time. At that time, the region still belonged to Mexico, which had to cede it to the United States after a war in 1848.

According to EJIAXING, it was not until January 4, 1896, that Utah formally became the 45th state of the United States. Local leaders had advocated this for more than forty years, but each time they encountered resistance from the federal government, which demanded, among other things, that polygamy be abolished. One of the beaches during the World War II Normandy Invasion is named after Utah, Utah Beach.

National parks

Arches National Park

The main features of Arches National Park are stone arches (arches), pointed pedestals and more various sculptures. The color of these formations changes according to whether the sun is in the sky. The park is located in the middle of the state of Utah. The park owes its name to the fact that it has the most natural rock arches in the world on its territory. By following the footpaths, the visitor is introduced to this phenomenon in an impressive way.

A paved road runs through the park so the entire park is easily accessible, but to see the sights you will have to get out of the car. The arches consist mainly of red sandstone and are thought to have been formed about 150 million years ago. A 90 meter thick layer of sand formed here, which was brought down by the wind. Over the millions of years that followed, new layers were constantly added and the sand was given the opportunity to harden. Before that time, this area was a vast desert. Somewhat later, tectonic forces pushed the sandstone up and folded it. This created large cracks in the soil.

Erosion removed the top layer of the sandstone, exposing the Entrada Sandstone (the red sandstone) and allowing weathering to begin. The arches owe their external characteristics to this. Narrow canyons formed in this area due to water entering the cracks and fissures in the sand. The canyons are separated by bridges of hard material. The hollowing out of the soft material in the ground eventually resulted in graceful arches. This entire process is still going on with the result that eventually the arches will also collapse.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park is located in an area that can only be reached through forests of pine, spruce, pine and aspen. This is a basin whose walls consist of more than 50 different layers of limestone. The shape resembles an amphitheater. Columns, towers, protruding points in many different colors characterize this area. The limestone formations in which they originated are the famous Pink Cliffs of the state of Utah. The beautiful and colorful shapes of this area are a feast for the eyes. The colors change constantly under the weather conditions.

Visitors can reach almost the entire park by car and only have to walk to the viewpoint to admire this beautiful event. You can also take guided tours on foot or by horse in the park. You will be accompanied by an experienced guide. You can also choose to enter the park on your own. In 1928 the park received its status and it consists of an area of 145 square kilometers. Many think that the wind is the most important factor in the appearance of Bryce Canyon. Nothing is less true. Water has been the responsible factor in this case in the form of rain, snow and ice. The area is also subject to constant impoundment.

Bryce Canyon was completely submerged millions of years ago because it was part of a gigantic lake. Dinosaurs searched the swamps in this area 60 million years ago to collect plant material. the fossils of these animals are still found in the park today. Summer brings a pleasant temperature here.

Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands is one of the most rugged areas of the United States with the status of National Park. A large maze of gorges and canyons in a tangled pattern are the external features of this park. The Colorado River and the Green River flow through this area. The Cataract Canyon is where the above rivers converge. This is one of the reasons why white-water rafting enthusiasts call this canyon one of the most difficult obstacles in the United States. The landscape has rock formations, steep walls, columns and arches up to a height of 2400 meters in its territory.

The area received its status in 1964 and has a total area of 1365 square kilometers. Erosion has created countless different shapes and colors. The Colorado River and a 900-meter-thick layer of salt in the soil provide most of the appearance of this park. The salt is an unreliable substrate for the sand and stone and the groundwater causes this salt to sink. This also lowers the sand and stone that is on top.

Capitol Reef National Park

Heavy rock formations, slopes, gorges and canyons are the ingredients of this park. Capital reef is located in southern Utah and received its status in 1971. The area of the park is 979 square kilometers. The park owes its name to a very large rock formation that is called Capitol Dome because of its shape. Its shape is reminiscent of the dome of the Capitol in Washington DC. A massive ridge that acts as a natural barrier gave it the name reef. A special phenomenon is, for example, Waterpocket Fold, a 160 km long fold in the earth’s crust. Over the past millions of years, huge pits have been formed in this fold that collect many thousands of liters of water when it rains.

Cathedral Valley is a valley in which eroded remnants of Entrada Sandstone rise like shark teeth to a height of 150 meters above the desert floor. The park is easily accessible by the Highway that runs through the middle of the park. Furthermore, there are good footpaths and dirt roads that traverse the park. However, the unpaved road is not recommended if you are not in possession of a four-wheel drive car. Capitol Reef is part of the Colorado Plateau. Waterpocket Fold is the main reason why the area has been given its protective status. In summer, an average daytime temperature of 38 degrees is normal. Spring and autumn bring mild temperatures, while in winter it is about 10 degrees in this area.

Zion National Park

This beautiful park owes its appearance largely to the Virgin River. A large gorge, side gorges, rich vegetation, steep rock walls and deep ravines are the ingredients of this area. In 1919, the park received its status and it covers an area of 592 square kilometers. The main feature, as well as the main draw, is Zion Canyon. A 24 km long and 800 m deep colorful canyon. The majority of the rock formations can be seen from the road, but it is certainly not unwise to make a trip to see more of the park. Taking walks ensures the hiker of beautiful views of some of the more hidden beauties of Zion National Park.

The towering walls and slopes are the result of geological processes that took place more than two hundred million years ago. Former inland seas deposited their sediments here. About sixty million years ago, the area, which barely rose above sea level, began to slowly push upwards. The height to which it was pushed up was in some cases more than 1500 meters. The first whites who came to this area had to deal with the Paiute Indians who claimed this area. However, before Paiute Indians, Indians already lived here. If you are going to visit the park by car, it is wise to follow the Zion Scenic Drive.