When it comes to wildlife and natural scenery,
Alaska is definitely one of the most interesting and diverse
states in the U.S. While many people around the world get the
image of Alaska being a snow-covered wasteland full of polar
bears, Eskimos, and icebergs, it’s not exactly right. However,
there is a lot of space as it’s the largest state in the country
by size and only 47th on the list when it comes to population,
with about 700,000 people. The state capital is Juneau, while
Anchorage is the largest city and home to about half of all
Alaskans. Other well known cities in include Fairbanks, Halibut
Cove, Wasilla, Kodiak, Palmer, Bethel, and Valdez. In 1959
Alaska became the 49th state to join the Union.
Most people think of Alaska and snow because of the
location of the state, which is the northwest extremity of North
America. The Arctic Ocean sits to the north, with Canada to the
east, and to the west and south we have the Pacific Ocean. If
you travel west across the Bering Strait, you’ll eventually
reach Russia, which is where Alaska came from originally when
the U.S. bought it from the Russians back in 1867 for a cost of
$7.2 million.
The Russians were the first Europeans to start
settling there in 1741. Alaska became famous in the 1890s as
thousands of people flocked there during the gold rush and oil
was discovered there in 1977.
There’s a lot of water to enjoy as Alaska has
more coastline, about 34,000 miles, than the rest of the states
combined. To get an idea of how big it is, Alaska’s larger than
every country in the world except for 18 of them. The state is
divided into 16 boroughs which are typically filled with
islands, volcanoes, lakes, marshlands, wetlands, forests, and
glaciers.
The climate varies because of the sheer size of
the land. Some parts are freezing and covered in snow most of
the year, but in some areas, such as Fairbanks the temperature
in the summer can reach about 90 degrees Fahrenheit. However,
the same area can get as cold as -60°F in the dead of winter.
When travelling there, it’s important to do some research on the
climate in the areas you’ll be visiting for obvious reasons.
Some crops are grown in Alaska, but it’s famous
for the seafood, especially salmon. You can try this fresh fish
out at most restaurants and you might even want to try catching
your own. Hunting is also popular with moose, caribou, deer, and
Dall sheep as popular targets.
Traveling around Alaska can be a bit challenging
as there aren’t as many highways as the rest of the states.
However, the major centers are connected by road. But when it
comes to the capital of Juneau, you need to take a car ferry.
The railroad system is quite intricate and a great way to travel
in the summer, but the remote areas can only be reached by air,
foot, dogsled, snowmobile, and boat. Many of the larger towns
can be visited by the state-run ferry system. This allows you to
take in the spectacular scenery while traveling.
One of the most popular ways to reach Alaska
these days is by cruise ship as they’re very popular in the
summer. For the rest, you can fly into the international airport
in Anchorage or Fairbanks. There are many other airports
available for domestic travel and you can take small taxi trips
and seaplanes to some communities. However, if you’re
adventurous you may want to try a dogsled or at least check out
some of the sledding competitions that are held there.
Some of the most popular include the Iditarod
Trail Sled Dog Race, World Ice Art Championships, Alaska
Hummingbird Festival, the Stikine River Garnet Fest, and the
Sitka Whale Fest. The state is filled with 11 native cultural
groups and the Alaska Native Heritage Center celebrates their
heritage, art, and music. The native music in influenced by
Europe and Russian immigrants and there are quite a few
festivals, such as the Alaska Folk Festival, the Anchorage Folk
Festival, and the Sitka Summer Music Festival. The state also
has several symphony orchestras.
Alaska is definitely a place for adventure and
nature lovers and you should have no problem finding
accommodations in all price ranges when visiting. Just remember
to be prepared to explore one of the biggest natural wonderlands
in the world.
About Alaska