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<br />The average frost-free period is 115 days at Duchesne, 120 days at <br /> <br />Vernal, and 125 days at Roosevelt. As elevation increases, the growing <br /> <br />season decreases. <br /> <br />Physiography <br />Most of the Uinta Basin floor lies between 5,000 and 6,000 feet <br /> <br />above sea level. In the Uinta Mountains, the largest east-west trending <br /> <br />mountain range in North America, peaks exceed 13,000 feet in several <br /> <br />places. Between the mountains and the basin floor are various types of <br /> <br />land forms, including smooth, gently sloping benches or mesas; alluvial <br /> <br />valleys dissected by streams; alluvial fans and foothill slopes that lie <br /> <br />between the bases of mesas and the basin floor; rolling uplands; and <br /> <br />steep, rough, broken and eroded lands. These landform types are <br /> <br />scattered throughout the basin. <br /> <br />Soils <br /> <br />The irrigated lands of the Uinta Basin are of two major types: old <br /> <br />alluvial soils found on the higher benches and mesas, and more recent <br /> <br />deeper alluvial and residual soils found in the valley bottoms of the <br /> <br />area. <br /> <br />The soils on the benchlands have developed from an alluvium of <br /> <br />quartzite and mixed sedimentary rock from the Uinta Mountains deposited <br /> <br />during periods of glacial recession. Most have medium to moderately slow <br /> <br />internal drainage characteristics due mainly to the cemented cobble and <br /> <br />lime hardpans found at fairly shallow depths. The hardpan is moderately <br /> <br />hard with numerous cracks which allow penetration of roots and water. <br /> <br />The hardpan ~s a retardent to water movement, slowing the downward <br /> <br />penetration of water, but does not constitute a barrier. As a result C~Jl S:':i <br /> <br />meadow hay and pasture are produced on lands of the higher benches. <br /> <br />7 <br />