When
followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
trekked westward in 1847 to escape persecution, their leader,
Brigham Young, put down his pack on the shores of the Great
Salt Lake. Here, he believed, was a location so remote and unwanted
that the members of his faith could finally live in peace. Surveying
the barren-looking wasteland, he uttered the now famous words,
'This is the right place.' Then, he began preparing plans for
a new Mormon settlement. If you were a downhill skier, an ardent
hiker or an avid bird-watcher, you might have agreed with Mr
Young. If you had to plant crops and raise a family in this
harsh environment, however, you might have had a few second
thoughts about the man's sanity. Regardless, Salt Lake City,
the capital of Utah and by far the largest metropolis in the
state, is now a testimony to the industriousness and vision
of these early settlers.
Following
its foundation, the population of the city swelled quickly,
aided by passing traffic heading to the California goldfields.
It remained, however, almost 100% Mormon until 1869, when the
transcontinental railway brought in a flood of outsiders. Today
Mormons constitute about 40% of the city's population, but they
can be proud to have played a major role in building a spacious,
pleasant, hassle-free city that is uniquely sandwiched between
a briny inland sea and a snowcapped range of 11,000ft (3300m)
mountains. It's a great place for Latter-day Saints, as well
as skiers, hikers, mountain bikers and just about anyone who
enjoys the robustness of outdoor pursuits. With this sporting
pedigree, the city was an obvious choice to host the 2002 Winter
Olympics.
Albertson Travel