Salt Lake City Trivia Quiz

Answer: Brigham Young

Brigham Young became president of the Mormon church following the death of its founder, Joseph Smith. You may still visit Brigham Young's Salt Lake home, called the 'Lion House', situated in the downtown area. Incidentally, frontiersman Jim Bridger may have been the first Caucasian man to visit the site on which Salt Lake was built, and is also rumored to have been the first person of European descent to have viewed the Great Salt Lake.

Answer: False

This is certainly false, the Dead Sea holds this distinction (despite its name, the Dead Sea is in fact a lake). However, the Great Salt Lake is the saltiest lake in the United States and is definitely worth a visit when you come to Salt Lake City. The lake is so salty that enough buoyancy is provided for one to float on its surface.

The lake is populated primarily by one inhabitant, brine shrimp, being too saline to harbor any larger organisms such as fish. The lake is mined for both the brine shrimp and the salt itself...you may notice a Morton Salt plant nearby.

Answer: Oquirrh Mountains

The Oquirrh Mountains house the world famous Bingham Canyon copper mine, the largest open pit mine in the world. Many claim the Great Wall of China to be the only man-made object that can be seen from space, this is a myth. However, it is not a myth that the Bingham Canyon mine can be observed from well above Earth's atmosphere.

The mine can be visited and it is well worth the trip. The trucks used to haul the mined materials, primarily copper ore, are fitted with the largest tires in the world...quite a sight!

Answer: Snowbird and Alta

All of the above mentioned are Utah ski resorts, but only Alta and Snowbird lie up Little Cottonwood Canyon. You must try the skiing there some day, I do not think it is an idle boast that Utah's license plates read 'The Greatest Snow on Earth'!

Answer: Temple Square

Temple Square is obviously worth a look when visiting Salt Lake City, especially if you are a fan of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I recommend visiting the visitor's centers on the north and south sides of the square as well. You'll certainly be accosted by friendly young Mormon folk, offering you tours and guidance...and it is most likely that they will not try and convert you at that time! To the West of the square you will find the Mormon History Museum, also worth a look!

Answer: No

The Mormon Church Office Building, standing 28 stories and 420 feet high, is the second tallest in Salt Lake City after the Wells Fargo Center (422 ft, 24 stories - formerly called 'American Stores Building'). The Church Office Building is the 'corporate headquarters', so to speak, of the Mormon church, and contains the world famous geneology library that has been compiled by the Mormon church.

The building is very oddly shaped, with two large wings on either side of the main building, both containing engraved world maps.

Answer: State Street

State Street has served as a vital artery for the city since its inception. Main Street is also an important road, now containing a substantial stretch of Salt Lake's light rail system, but it is secondary to State Street. North Temple and West Temple bound Temple Square in those directions. State Street also serves as the main drag for kids who 'cruise' the street on Friday and Saturday nights...try to avoid it at those times!

Answer: University of Utah

The University of Utah is situated in the northeast corner of the Salt Lake valley. Elevated somewhat above the rest of the valley, it lies on the foothills of the Wasatch range. One can get a terrific view of the valley from several of the buildings on campus, including the Rice-Eccles football stadium. Rice-Eccles stadium will be host to the opening ceremonies for the 2002 winter Olympic games.

Answer: West Valley City

West Valley City was recently the 3rd Utah city to surpass the 100,000 mark in population. As suggested by its name, it is located in the western portion of the Salt Lake valley! Behind West Valley City we have Sandy, which also recently surpassed the 100,000 mark in population. Sandy is located to the south of Salt Lake and I know the town well, having gone to high school there! Incidentally, the second largest city in Utah in terms of population is Provo, located one valley south of the Salt Lake valley, with a population of approximately 110,000, as of the year 2000. Brigham Young University can be found in Provo, but not much else!

Answer: Utah Jazz

The Jazz have not been scintillating during the 2001-2002 basketball season, but one day they will again be great!