| The state of Utah is perhaps one of the most | | | | billion barrels - in the center of the state. And Utah is |
| misunderstood - or misrepresented - states in the | | | | no stranger to phenomenal resource extraction: the |
| union. Many people, when they DO think of Utah - see | | | | Bingham Canyon Mine, just south of Salt Lake City, is |
| a vast rocky (and salty) desert; a place with a strong | | | | the largest artificial excavation in the world, and has |
| economy and low unemployment, but a place, perhaps, | | | | produced 17 million tons of copper and 23 million |
| where too much fun is frowned upon. Interestingly, it is | | | | ounces of gold, in addition to sizable quantities of silver. |
| the diversity of Utah's geography that makes it such | | | | Many Utahns realize, however, that these resources |
| an exciting and economically bustling place, and such a | | | | do not last forever, and look to other ways in which |
| great place to live. | | | | their landscape might drive the economy. |
| While Utah is perhaps best known for its flat, salty | | | | For many years now, Utah's canyons and river valleys |
| landscape, it is in fact home to a variety of geographic | | | | have provided a colorful backdrop for some of |
| regions, including lush green forests, canyons, river | | | | America's favorite films. The now famous Sundance |
| valleys, and snow-capped mountains. Utah's diverse | | | | Film Festival (that's right, it's held in Utah!) was first |
| and breath-taking terrain has made it a popular | | | | begun as a way to entice more filmmakers to the |
| destination for a variety of outdoor enthusiasts, | | | | state. Since that time, Utah has played host to such |
| particularly the adventurous ones. While the "Beehive | | | | celluloid gems as Independence Day, Butch Cassidy |
| State" does offer a range of peaceful pursuits, like | | | | and the Sundance Kid, National Lampoon's Vacation, |
| fishing, sailing, and hiking, its rugged terrain provides the | | | | and parts of the recent Pirates of the Caribbean |
| perfect environment for adventure sports like back | | | | trilogy. |
| country skiing & hiking, snowboarding, extreme | | | | Utah's story is not about 'reinvention' or 'revitalization', |
| mountain-biking, whitewater rafting, and more. Utah's | | | | it's about discovery; and more and more people are |
| reputation as an outdoor sports Mecca has helped to | | | | making this discovery everyday. Utah's stable |
| make tourism one of the state's major industries. | | | | economy and low rate of unemployment make it a |
| This booming tourism industry, mostly focused in | | | | great place for couples, and young people just starting |
| Southern Utah, is just one of the factors contributing to | | | | out in life. The excellent schools, the young population, |
| Utah's solid economy. Eastern Utah has a substantial | | | | and the great value and variety in Utah real estate |
| petroleum refining industry, and geologists recently | | | | make it a perfect place for families. |
| discovered a major oil deposit - possibly as much as 1 | | | | |