15 Interesting Facts About Alaska That Will Leave You In Awe
Discover Alaska's wild wonders! Uncover interesting facts about alaska, America's last frontier, from breathtaking glaciers to abundant wildlife.
Sep 03, 20246.8K Shares166.4K Views
On March 30, 1867, Alaska was bought from the Russian Empire for 7.2 million dollars, or around two cents per acre. The state was created as a territory in May 1912, and on January 3, 1959, it was admitted as the 49th state. It has been dubbed "the last frontier" since it is the most western and northern state. With an area of more than 3,000 square miles, Juneau is the largest city in North America and serves as the capital of the state.
Alaska Uncovered
1. People Have Lived In Alaska For Over 15,000 Years
The earliest humans started to traverse the Bering Strait more than 15,000 years ago, traveling from what is today the most easterly point of Russia to the most westerly point of Alaska.
Because of the lowering global sea levels at the time of human migration, the Bering Strait was truly a land bridge. A large number of these humans persisted in traveling southward, eventually making their way to both North and South America.
However, a few made Alaska their home long before any Europeans did.
2. Alaska Means “Great Land” In Aleut
The indigenous people of the Aleutian Islands are known as the Aleut people, and their name for Alaska evolved into the one we use today.
Native Alaskans make up more than 24% of Alaska's population.
The Inupiat, Yuit, Athabascans, Tlingit, Haida, and Aleut are the six primary groups of Native Americans in Alaska, and each has its own language and dialect.
They came in later waves and are not closely linked to those who proceeded south to settle in South America, while belonging to the same patterns of migration over the Bering Strait.
3. Alaska Was Once A Part Of The Russian Empire
Some researchers claim that the Russian Empire started colonizing Alaska in the seventeenth century.
It is purported that multiple vessels belonging to Russian explorer Semyon Dezhnyov landed in Alaska and established a community there.Regardless of whether that is accurate or not, Russia did eventually occupy Alaska, setting up the first permanent settlement in 1784.
Although the Russian Empire's attempt to colonize Alaska was not very successful, the US had other ambitions.
On October 18, 1867, the US paid $7.2 million to buy Alaska from the Russian Empire.
4. 40% Of All Alaskans Live In One Place
An extensive network of roads and railroads known as the Railbelt extends from Alaska's southern coast all the way to the state's interior.
On this portion of territory, settlements, towns, and cities are home to over two-thirds of Alaska's population.Located at the southernmost point of the Railbelt is Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska.
This city, which occupies 1,944 square miles (5,035 km2), is home to over 291,000 people, or nearly 40% of Alaska's total population!
5. Alaskan Residents Are Paid To Live There
Due to the abundance of natural resources in Alaska, the Alaska Permanent Fund was founded in 1976 to oversee the excess state petroleum earnings from the oil sector.
A dividend is distributed annually to qualified Alaskan citizens from this state fund, which is intended to increase through investments in other sectors.
You must have been a permanent resident of the state for more than a year or have specific criminal offenses in order to be eligible.
The dividend is subject to annual modification; in 2019, it was $1,606.
6. Russia Is So Close To Alaska You Can Swim To It
Contrary to popular belief, the Bering Strait segment dividing Alaska and Russia is much narrower.
Its width is just 51 miles (82 km) at its narrowest point. However, Alaska and Russia jointly control two islands in the Bering Strait. The Alaskan island is known as Little Diomede, and the Russian island is known as Big Diomede.
You could be able to see someone on the other side of these islands because they are only 2.5 miles apart!
As a matter of fact, Lynne Cox, a long-distance swimmer, crossed the strait and arrived on USSR territory in 1987!
7. Dog Sledding Is The Official Sport Of Alaska
The dog sled has been one of the most well-known modes of transportation in Alaska for a very long time.
The practice of using a team of one or more dogs to draw a sled across the snow while the musher stands at the back of the sled is known as dog sledding, or mushing.
These days, though, sled dog racing is more of a pastime than a means of transportation.
Every year, mushers from all around the globe journey to Anchorage to partake in the 1,150-mile (1,850-kilometer) Iditarod Sled Dog Race!
8. Alaska Has Some Of The US’ Highest Mountains
There are some really amazing landscapes in Alaska, and the mountains there never let you down!
Indeed, this magnificent northern area is home to the five highest mountains in the entire United States. The tallest peak is Denali Mountain (previously Mount McKinley), rising a staggering 20,310 feet (6,194 meters) above the ground!
In Koyukon, the indigenous language of the area, Denali literally means "the tall one."
9. Alaska Is Home To Over 130 Active Volcanoes
The Aleutian Islands are an archipelago located south of Alaska. This area is situated on one of the world's most active earthquake belts, which crosses a significant portion of the Pacific Ocean.
As a result, the Aleutian Islands are home to numerous active volcanoes in addition to regular seismic activity.
Mount Shishaldin is a particularly striking volcano on Unimak Island, the largest of the Aleutian Islands.
More so than Mount Fuji in Japan, this volcano possesses the most flawlessly round volcanic cone on the planet.
10. Alaska Is Home To The Largest National Forest In The US
The Tongass National Forest is a hidden gem on Alaska's southeast coast.
It makes sense that this forest is the biggest in the United States.It is astonishingly huge, spanning 16.7 million acres (68,000 km2), over half the area of Florida!
Numerous endangered species of plants and animals can be found in the temperate rain forest that is the Tongass National Forest.
11. Fruits And Vegetables Grow Larger In Alaska Than Elsewhere
Alaska has almost 20 hours of sunshine a day due to its northern location on the planet. Plants benefit significantly from this as well, being able to grow larger and sweeter.
This is because the process of photosynthesis enables them to produce more energy than usual when exposed to longer periods of sunshine.
Vegetables have been known to grow to enormous sizes if the right seeds are picked, but they do require careful selection to thrive under these circumstances.
These massive veggies are also seen during the annual August Alaska State Fair.
12. The Fourth Busiest Air-freight Airport In The World Is In Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage lies nearly equally apart from New York City, Frankfurt, and Tokyo.
This indicates that a 9.5-hour flight from Anchorage can take one to 90% of the world's industrial sector. Because of this,Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airportserves as a significant hub for aviation freight loading and free-living.
As such, Anchorage is home to a sizable FedEx depot and an essential component of their global network.
13. In Alaska, 2,250 People Are Typically Reported Missing Each Year
The true story of Christopher McCandless, who vanished into the Alaskan tundra, may be familiar to some of you from the film Into the Wild.
You might be surprised to learn that disappearances, while not always in the same manner as McCandless', are far more frequent in Alaska's vast northern tundra.
As of 2018, there have been 60,700 documented incidents of missing persons since the authorities started keeping track of them in 1988.
In actuality, Alaska has twice as many reports of missing persons as the US as a whole.
14. Alaska Has Its Very Own “Bermuda Triangle
There seems to be a sizable area of Alaska from Anchorage to Barrow to Junea that is rife with strange events and disappearances.
Although the number of missing person cases in Alaska is already quite high, the state's "Bermuda Triangle" appears to be the location of more cases than usual.
15. A Town In Alaska Once Had A Cat For A Mayor
For a good twenty years, Stubbs the cat served as the honorary mayor of Talkeetna, if not the official mayor.
Born on April 12, 1997, Stubbs the ginger cat held the office of mayor from 1998 until his passing on July 21, 2017.After Stubbs' owners discovered him and a few other kittens in a box, the people of the tiny town, which lacked a mayor, voted for him in a write-in campaign.
There is much truth to the popular perception of Alaska as a vast, wild place. After all, the reason it has such high tourism rates is because of its untainted natural beauty, expansive woods, and towering peaks.
Hopefully, this holds true for a very long time, but in the meantime, perhaps it would be wise to visit this wonderful state briefly while it's still immaculate and magnificent!
FAQ's About Interesting Facts About Alaska
Why Is Alaska Such A Unique Location?
Celebrity Cruises Wide-open areas, an abundance of outdoor activities, and Alaskan Native culture are well-known features of the state. Alaska is among the greatest locations on Earth to see the Northern Lights. Alaska's huge interior geography, with its mountains and sea fjords, makes the 49th state a photographer's paradise.
What Is The Name Given To Alaska?
State Nickname: "The Last Frontier," as Alaska is named after the Aleut term "Alyeska," which means "great land."
Is Alaska Part Of Canada Or The United States?
Alaska - Facts, Cities, Weather, Maps, History, Flag...Alaska is one of the 50 states that make up the US. On January 3, 1959, it became the 49th state to join the union. The largest peninsula in the Western Hemisphere is the Alaska Peninsula, which is located in the far northwest of the continent of North America.
Conclusion
In many areas of Alaska's immense wilderness, there's a greater chance of seeing a grizzly bear than a human being! The state is truly breathtaking in its natural splendor! The scenery, blanketed in snow and ice, contrasts with the roaring volcanoes.
For most of the year, Alaska is the place where the magnificent Northern Lights may be seen dancing across the night sky. Therefore, Alaska is something you should see at least once in your lifetime, regardless of your preferred style of travel!
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