| OCR Text |
Show Historical and Archeological Sites Important to the heritage of the area are many significant historical sites- reminders of Utah's pioneer past. Examples of pioneer architecture, stretches of the old Pony Express and stage routes, and ghost mining towns are to " be found throughout the Unit area. Examples of the pioneer architecture are Mormon temples, tabernacles, and numerous homes and other buildings located throughout the Unit area. Historic landmarks include both natural and man- made features such as Great Salt Lake, Utah Lake, Mt. Timpanogos, numerous canyons and smaller lakes, the old Utah territorial capitol at Fillmore, remnants of Indian forts, and many monuments and relics of the past. Park City and Eureka, and many smaller communities such as Lark, Copperton, Tintic, Silver City, and Mammoth are all associated with the mining industry which has played an important role in the history and development of the area. The Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation also provides many reminders of the Old West. Archeological studies conducted in the general vicinity ( Smith 1952, Purdy 1959, Breternity 1970, Day and Dibble 1963, Gillin 1938, Gunderson 1957, and Wormington 1955) indicate that this area of Utah would include some significant archeological sites- some of which are already known. Their relationship to the particular construction features involved, however, may be minimal. From an environmental standpoint the potential significance of the region's cultural resources is unlimited. The Unit includes the northern Uintah foothill periphery of the Fremont culture and encompasses the important area of contact between the desert- oriented Great Basin cultural groups and the southwestern agriculturalists. 1°" Land and Land Forms Within the Proposed Unit Area a. Uinta Basin ( l) General Physiographically the Uinta Basin is a small segment of the extensive Colorado Plateau province which extends over much of Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. The Uinta Basin is a structural depression that lies between the High Uinta Mountains on the north and the Tavaputs Plateaus on the south. Much of the basin is underlain by marine and non- marine sedimentary strata. The basin has been dissected by many streams with many relief forms recognized. The more important of which are: ( l) Smooth gently sloping benches on mesas; ( 2) Broad to narrow valley flood plains; ( 3) Low terraces, alluvial fans, and foot slopes at the base of the mesa and bench escarpments; and ( k) Rolling uplands, steep, rough, broken, and eroded lands. 159 |
