GANNETT. 
GREAT SALT LAKE. 
15 
a part of these waters, discharging them through the River Jordan 
into Great Salt Lake. Evaporation from the surface of this lake 
equalizes, in the average year, the inflow to it. 
The lake is naturally subject to considerable fluctuations in volume, 
and as the country surrounding it is very low and flat, especially on 
the west, a rise of a few feet in the lake surface is sufficient to extend 
its area greatly. This great stretch of country on the west, lying but 
little above the surface of the lake, is one of the most desert areas in 
the United States. With the exception of a few springs at the bases 
of mountain ranges it is without water. Its surface is one of glisten- 
ing alkali and is almost wholly without vegetation. It is known as 
the Great Salt Lake Desert. 
Sevier River rises in the southern part of the State and flows north- 
ward for 150 miles; then, turning abruptly to the southwest, it flows 
out into the Sevier Lake Desert, into which it sinks. At the time of 
high water in the spring it forms Sevier Lake, which disappears as 
the water supply diminishes. 
Farther south, in the southwestern part of the State, is another 
great stretch of desert land, named Escalante, from the Franciscan 
explorer who, so far as known, was the first to reach the borders of 
this great inland basin. 
ELEVATION. 
The mean elevation of Utah above sea level is estimated at 6,100 
feet. With the exception of Colorado and W} r oming it is the most 
elevated of the States and Territories. The areas lying between the 
different degrees of altitude are given in the following table: 
Areas of Utah between different degrees of altitude. 
Feet. 
Area in 
square miles. 
Between 2,000 and 3,000 
1,000 
500 
24, 900 
21,000 
15, 970 
10,800 
6, 200 
2,800 
1, 700 
Between 3,000 and 4,000 
Between 4,000 and 5,000 
Between 5,000 and 6,000 
Between 6,000 and 7,000 
Between 7,000 and 8,000 
Between 8,000 and 9,000 
Between 9,000 and 10,000 
Above 10,000 
Thus nearly all its area lies above 4,000 feet and three-fourths of 
its area has an altitude of a mile or more 
