Let’s talk about one of Utah’s Mighty 5 national parks: Capitol Reef. One of the less-visited of the parks, it offers amazing landscapes and rare glimpses into history. Check out these four fascinating facts about one of our state’s treasures!
1. It became a national park in 1971.
Located in south-central Utah, the park is approximately 60 miles long and 6 miles wide. It was established to preserve 378 miles of desert landscape.
2. It was named for its dome formations.
The park was named for its white Navajo sandstone cliffs with dome formations—similar to the white domes often placed on capitol buildings.
3. Native Americans lived there for 1,000+ years.
The Freemont people lived there from about 300 to 1300 AD, when it is believed that they abandoned the land due to drought. There are petroglyphs and pictographs throughout the park.
4. It’s perfect for stargazing.
In 2015, the park was designated as an International Dark Sky Park, meaning that the park has taken measures to reduce light pollution and to provide stargazing programs to the public.
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