Surrounding by beautiful scenery, Salt Lake City is the capital and most populous city in the state of Utah. Located in the northern part of the state, not too far from the border with Wyoming, Salt Lake City is located in Salt Lake County and covers an area of approximately 110.4 square miles. The city has an estimated population of over 200,000 people, with more than 1.2 million in its surrounding metropolitan area. Salt Lake City also has close links with Ogden and Provo, forming a combined statistical area with these cities that houses over 2.5 million people.
The elevation of Salt Lake City is 4,226 feet
Elevation is an important geographical term denoting the height of a town, city, mountain, or other location in relation to sea level. The elevation of Salt Lake City (video) is very high at 4,226 feet (1,288 m). Most big cities around the United States have much lower elevations than this, with the three biggest cities in the country, New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, having elevations of 33 feet (10 m), 285 feet (87 m), and 594 feet (181 m), respectively.
Salt Lake City Elevation
Utah is one of the highest states in general. Statistically speaking, it’s the third highest, trailing only behind Colorado and Wyoming. Utah has a mean elevation of 6,100 feet (1,860 m) due to its many mountainous regions. This means that the elevation of Salt Lake City is actually significantly lower than the state average. The elevation of Utah varies enormously from one part of the state to the next, and this variation can be seen inside Salt Lake City too. The highest point within the limits of Salt Lake City is Grandview Peak, which has an elevation of 9,410 feet (2,868 m), while the city's lowest elevation point is at the Jordan River, which has an elevation of 4,210 feet (1,280 m).
The highest point in Utah is Kings Peak, which has an elevation of 13,534 feet (4,125 m), while the lowest point is the Beaver Dam Wash, not far from the Arizona border, which has an elevation of 2,180 feet (664 m). Other major cities around Utah include West Valley City, which has an elevation of 4,304 feet (1,312 m), Provo, which has an elevation of 4,551 feet (1,387 m), and West Jordan, which has an elevation of 4,373 feet (1,333 m).
Climate
Salt Lake City has a hot-summer humid continental climate that provides extreme temperatures depending on the season. Summers tend to be very hot, while winters are cold and snowy. The hottest month of the year is July, with average daily temperatures of 93°F (34°C), while the coldest month of the year is January, which has an average daily temperature of 30°F (-1°C). A lot of snow can fall for large parts of the year, from October through to late April.
Tourism has always played a big part in Salt Lake City's economy but saw a major surge in the wake of the 2002 Winter Olympics, which really showed off the beauty of the city and its surrounding landscape. Lots of outdoor activities like skiing, mountain biking, climbing, mountaineering, hiking, and more can all be enjoyed around Salt Lake City. For something a little more relaxing, the city also has lots of restaurants, live shows, bars, and historic buildings like the Union Pacific Depot and Salt Lake Temple.
