The Carnegie Foundation has placed the University of Utah in their “highest research activity” category, and the University of Utah is the flagship institution of the Utah System of Higher Education. The University is located in Salt Lake City at the foot of the spectacular Wasatch Mountains. This location offers unparalleled opportunities for outdoor recreation, with nine world-class ski resorts within an hour of Salt Lake City, and five national parks only a few hours away. Salt Lake City is the center of the Wasatch Front metropolitan area, with a population of approximately 2.6 million residents, has extensive arts and cultural activities, and has a major, newly renovated international airport, which serves as a principal Delta Airlines hub with direct flights to most U.S. cities, many cities in Canada and Mexico, as well as Paris, London, and Amsterdam. The area has received international recognition for its new light rail system, foodie culture, downtown renewal, increasing diversity, and welcoming culture. In 2017, U.S News and World report ranked Salt Lake City as the 10th best place to live in the nation.