Utahns Share A Surprising Fear Of Deep Water

According to a recent survey by MRO Electric and Supply, Utah’s most common fear is deep water—oceans, lakes, or anything else large enough to conceal a sea monster or your lost sunglasses. This is especially amusing considering Utah is about as far from the ocean as you can get without actually being in Kansas. The closest ocean waves are hundreds of miles away, and most Utahns’ experience with “deep water” is limited to overwatering a houseplant or stepping into a surprise puddle after a snowstorm.

Read More: A Sweet Utah Halloween? Not So Much

Still, maybe the fear isn’t as irrational as it sounds. Utah does have a few bodies of water capable of making a person think twice. The Great Salt Lake is wide enough to look endless, even if it’s shallow enough to wade through in many spots. Then there’s Lake Powell, which holds Utah’s deepest water—around 560 feet when full. That’s deep enough to lose a houseboat, a fishing lure, and possibly one’s sense of calm. If you stare too long into its blue depths, you might start wondering if something is staring back.

In Utah We'd Rather Fall Than Sink

The MRO Electric study surveyed over 2,400 people across 47 states and found that while fear of heights topped the national list, Utahns apparently worry about sinking instead of falling. Maybe that’s the desert logic at work: after all, in a state where water sometimes feels more precious than gold, the idea of being surrounded by it could feel downright unnatural.

So while other states are busy fearing snakes (one of my personal phobias), ghosts, or public speaking, Utah stands tall—and dry—afraid of something it almost never encounters. The good news? In Utah, avoiding deep water is easy. Just keep heading east, west, north, or south. You’ll hit plenty of mountains and desert before you ever have to face your fears—unless you count a kiddie pool in July.