Temple SquareThe four-hectare (10-acre) Temple Square complex
includes the Mormon Temple, the Tabernacle and the Assembly Hall.
It is at the heart of Salt Lake City, in location and spiritual
importance, and the symbolic epicentre of the Mormon religion or
Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints. Temple Square is
the city's biggest attraction, particularly the majestic six-spired
Temple, topped by a golden statue of the Angel Moroni, which forms
a striking silhouette on the city's skyline. The Temple was
completed in 1893 after 40 years of heavy labour and the
expenditure of millions of dollars. It is a holy place closed to
the non-Mormon public. Confirmed believers may enter the Temple,
but only for the most sacred of religious ceremonies, and
non-Mormons can learn about temple activities at the visitor
centres. The oval shape of the Tabernacle, topped by an impressive
domed roof, is home to the world-famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir
whose weekly rehearsals and organ recitals are open to all free of
charge, and illustrate the outstanding acoustic properties of the
Tabernacle building. The Gothic-style Assembly Hall, constructed
from granite left over from the Temple, is the venue for concerts
and lectures. The two visitor centres, North and South, contain
religious murals and paintings, exhibits and presentations about
the Mormon faith, a film depicting the arrival of the first Mormon
pioneers in Salt Lake City, and photographs of the Temple
interior.Utah State CapitolModelled after the national Capitol building in
Washington DC, the Utah State Capitol sits on a hill above the
city, a prominent sight surrounded by acres of beautifully
landscaped gardens. Memory Grove, to the east of the building,
contains statues honouring Utah veterans, and the grounds are a
favourite destination for joggers and walkers. The impressive
granite structure of the Capitol building is crowned by a copper
dome and fronted by columns, representing one of the greatest
examples of the Renaissance Revival style in the nation. A colossal
chandelier illuminates the interior walls that are covered with
murals illustrating Utah's history. Several busts proclaim the
state's prominent figures, including Brigham Young, leader of the
Mormon pioneers who founded Salt Lake City. Marble staircases lead
to the third floor where the Senate, House of Representatives, and
the Supreme Court of Utah are based. The state legislature meets in
January and February and visitors are welcome to sit in the
galleries overlooking their chamber. Visitors can choose to wander
through the building alone or join a guided tour.Pioneer Memorial MuseumDevoted to objects connected with historical events,
the Pioneer Memorial Museum is crammed with photographs, furniture,
textiles, toys and a doll collection from the daily lives of the
pioneers that have been painstakingly collected by the Daughters of
the Utah Pioneers. All four storeys are full of relics of Utah's
history, including personal effects of Mormon leader Brigham Young.
A short film is shown every half hour.Great Salt LakeThe huge shallow lake is the second saltiest body of
water in the world after the Dead Sea and is several times saltier
than the ocean and rich in minerals. Floating weightlessly in the
water of the Salt Lake is one of the main attractions, and although
this natural wonder is worth seeing, the facilities are somewhat
limited. The Great Salt Lake State Marina has a beach at one end
and boat launching ramps, but there are no boat rentals available.
Great Salt Lake has been declared a World Heritage Bird Sanctuary
due to the numbers of migrating birds that are attracted to the
brine flies and brine shrimp that survive in the saline waters.
Antelope Island is the largest of the lake's ten islands and can be
reached either by boat or by a causeway, offering excellent
picnicking, hiking and camping opportunities. The island also
boasts a herd of about 600 American Bison, introduced in 1893, and
other interesting animals such as coyotes, bobcats, deer and a
small herd of elk. Early mornings along the shore of this vast
expanse of water can be extremely beautiful.Dinosaur National MonumentThe Dinosaur National Monument straddles the border
between Utah and Colorado. The reserve was created to preserve the
layers of rock in which Jurassic Era dinosaur skeletons and bones
were found embedded at a site in the Utah section of the Monument
area. In 1909 an exposed sediment riverbed was discovered to
contain layers of prehistoric plant and animal fossils. A quarry
went into operation on the site, where full dinosaur skeletons as
well as fossilised remains of sea creatures up to three times older
than dinosaurs were excavated. A visitor centre has been built over
the quarry to protect the fossils, and forming one of the walls is
the exposed rock layer containing over 2,000 dinosaur bones that
has been enclosed as a permanent exhibit. (This is currently
closed, but visitors can see fossils by hiking half a mile (1km)
from the temporary visitor's centre). Although the quarry is often
the main reason for visiting the Dinosaur National Monument, the
area also contains acres of some of the most beautifully rugged
mountain scenery in the north, with colourful sandstone cliffs,
deep river canyons and forests, along with a number of scenic
hiking trails, unique wildlife and thrilling whitewater rafting on
two of the Colorado River's fast-flowing tributaries.
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