The Navajo Indians were referred to by the Apache as "Yuttahih" meaning "one that is higher up." Europeans misunderstood this term to refer to the tribes living higher in the mountains than the Navajo, the Utes, and the territory was called the land of the Utes, Utah.

When Brigham Young led the persecuted American sect of Mormons into the deserts of Utah in 1847, he found refuge in a land that no one else wanted. The determined Mormons, however, made the desert bloom through their hard work and skill. The descendents of these original settlers still make up a majority of Utah's residents.

The land of Utah covers 85,000 square miles, and is home to some of the most spectacular and unique natural formations in the country. Some of these unique sites have been designated national parks -- Famous among them are Zion National Park with its natural monuments, the towers and spires of Bryce Canyon, and the spectacular red rock of the Canyon Lands. Natural bridges, gorgeous canyons, and mysterious moonscapes are all part of Utah's.