Salt Lake City information
Salt Lake City residents have a lot to be proud of lately. Utah will host the Winter Olympics in 2002, the Utah Jazz professional basketball team are top-notch, the celebrated Sundance Film Festival occurs nearby, employment rates are high, and the city is becoming recognized as a US economic powerhouse. Clearly, a lot has gone on since Mormon leader Brigham Young and his followers gazed down on the valley "that no one else wanted."
The city occupies the Salt Lake Valley, which is the basin of an ancient lake that was once enormous, but is now on its way to disappearing altogether. Salt Lake City gets its notoriety as the home of the Mormon Church. The Mormons settled the valley in 1847, after fleeing from religious persecution in the East. Carving a world of their own in the rugged territory, the Mormons established a city around a temple.
For outsiders, the most apparent result of this cultural heritage is the combination of riches and social conservatism. Although other settlers had rejected the valley, history shows that the Mormons made a judicious choice when they settled in this fertile, mineral-rich area. The gold and other minerals brought in non-Mormons, too, which diversified the area in race and religion.
Visitors will find the attractions in town are heavy on history and religion, and low on thrills. Neoclassical architecture mixes with contemporary high rises, while the Wasatch Mountains act as a spectacular backdrop to the city.
Great ski areas can be reached in as little as 30 minutes. Park City, which lies just 25 minutes from downtown, is a world-famous downhill resort destination. A scenic former mining town, it is upscale, trendy, and filled with unique restaurants, shops, and other attractions. World-class skiing lies just outside of town, and the Sundance Film Festival occurs there every year.
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