By the mid-1990s, however, the state had developed a diversified economy, with a wide range of manufactured products. Tourism has also become a major element of the economy, and increasing numbers of visitors are attracted by the state s many natural landmarks. Salt Lake City is Utah s capital and largest city. Utah ranks 13th in size among the states and has an area of 84,904 square miles, including 2,736 square miles of inland water. The state has an overall distance from north to south of345 miles and a maximum extent from east to west of 277 miles.
Temperatures decrease from the south to the north in the state.
In the mountains the average temperature drops about 1 for every about about 1000 feet rise in elevation. Average July temperatures range from less than 60 in the mountains to more than 80 in a few locations in southern Utah. At Salt Lake City the average July temperature is 78 . There is a great variation between daytime and nighttime temperatures, and although daytime highs are often in the lower 90 s, summer nights are usually quite cool. Average January temperatures range from more than 35 in southwestern Utah to less than 20 in mountainous northeastern Utah.