Facts and General Infomation for Visiting Salt Lake City, UT

Salt Lake City General Information

• Elevation: In the valley, the city's elevation is 4,330 feet above sea level, and in the foothills reaches 5,200 feet. The Wasatch Mountains to the east are 11,500 feet tall, and the Oquirrh Mountains to the west are 9,500 feet high.
  
• The Great Salt Lake, 17 miles west of the city, is only about 45 feet deep, and its water is 5 to 15 percent salt. The Lake is 48 miles wide and 90 miles long, making it the largest lake in the U.S. west of the Great Lakes. The Great Salt Lake is part of an ancient lake known as Lake Bonneville that used to encompass part of Nevada, which today is made up of salt flats.
  
• Salt Lake City was founded in 1847 with the arrival of Brigham Young and the Mormon pioneers who sought religious freedom. The settlement was originally called Deseret, and within three years of their arrival, the Mormons founded the University of Deseret, which is now the University of Utah.

Salt Lake City Population

• With a population of over 179,000, Salt Lake City is the state's largest city and the capital city.
  
• As a whole, the state population of Utah is the nation's youngest and healthiest.
  
• The population boasts the highest literacy rate, highest percentage of high school graduates, and highest percentage of college-educated people.

Weather and Climate in Salt Lake City

• Salt Lake City's semi-arid continental climate is largely moderated by the Great Salt Lake. During the hot, dry summers, humidity stays low and the nights are cool. Highs in July and August are in the lower 90s. Winters are cold, but not severe, with December and January highs reaching the upper 30s and lows in the 20s.

Tourism in Salt Lake City

• Salt Lake City is a haven for skiers and winter sports lovers. In less than an hour, visitors can reach nine major ski resorts, three cross country skiing areas, and the U.S.'s only recreational ski jumping complex. Salt Lake City is known for its dry powder snow, and many consider it to be the best snow in the world.
  
• There are 11 national parks within a day's drive of the city, five of which are located in Utah.
  
• Salt Lake City attracts 7 million visitors every year.
  
• In 2002, Salt Lake City hosted the Winter Olympic Games. Visitors can relive the thrills of the world's best athletic competition at Olympic Cauldron Park.
  
• Utah is known for its many colloquialisms, including: "Oh my heck," meaning "Oh my goodness"; "You bet," meaning "Of course"; "Potgut" referring to the Utah prairie dog; and "lake stink," a term for the smell in the city when the winds blow off the Great Salt Lake.