Landscapes of Utah

Mountains

• While mountains dot the landscape across Utah, its most well known and perhaps most popular peaks are part of the Rocky Mountains. The Uinta and Wasatch ranges make up Utah's Rocky Mountain Region. Uinta includes lakes, canyons and Kings Peak which, at more than 13,000 feet above sea level, is the tallest mountain in the state. Uinta is the only Rocky Mountain Range which runs east to west. Mountains in the Wasatch Range are between six and 8,000 feet above sea level. This range also includes canyons and valleys. Both mountain ranges are near Salt Lake City and are home to numerous ski resorts.

Ridges and Basins

• Western Utah includes the Basin and Ridge Region, which is one of the driest places in the United States. This region includes mountains and basins, as well as the Great Salt Lake. This waterway is the remnant of an ice age lake and has a salt content too high for fish to survive. Next to the lake is Great Salt Lake Desert, which was formed from a dry lake bed. Included in the desert landscape are mountains and salt flats. Bonneville Salt Flats has 30,000 acres of extremely flat and barren land, which makes it a popular destination for speed racers. Another part of this region's landscape is known as Utah's Dixie. It is in the southwest corner of the region and is the lowest and warmest area of Utah.

High and Low Country

• In southern and eastern Utah, the landscape includes the Colorado Plateau, which could be at least 500 million years old. This area is a basin surrounded by highlands and includes canyons, valleys and plateaus. The Colorado River passes through the Plateau, as well as Fish Lake, which is known for large trout. One of the plateau's most impressive landscapes is Bryce Canyon, which includes massive rock formations. The landscape also includes Cedar Breaks Canyon, which is a smaller version of Bryce Canyon, and Zion Canyon, which includes sandstone monoliths, cliffs and towers, as well as waterfalls and emerald pools.