Alaska

Alaska is a big state in the United States, located in the far northwest part of North America. It is the largest state by area, bigger than Texas, California, and Montana combined! Alaska is also very special because it is close to Russia across the Bering Strait, and it is the northernmost state in the U.S.

People have lived in Alaska for thousands of years, and many believe it was the pathway for the first people to reach the Americas a long time ago. Originally, Russia controlled parts of Alaska, but later sold it to the United States in 1867. Alaska became a state on January 3, 1959.

Today, Alaska is known for its beautiful natural resources, such as fishing, oil, and natural gas, which help its economy. The state also has many national parks and forests, and it is home to a large number of Indigenous people. Even though it is large, Alaska has one of the smallest populations of any U.S. state, making it a very quiet and open place to live. The biggest city is Anchorage, but the capital city is Juneau, which is one of the largest cities in the U.S. by area.

Etymology

The name Alaska comes from a word used by the Aleut people, alaxsxaq, which means "the mainland." It was first used by Russian explorers when they arrived in the area. The name originally referred to the Alaska Peninsula before it was used for the whole state.

History

Main articles: Prehistory of Alaska and History of Alaska

Alaska has been home to many Indigenous peoples for thousands of years. These groups lived in the area long before Europeans arrived. Studies of language and DNA have helped us learn about how people first settled in North America, possibly through a land bridge called Beringia.

Later, European explorers and settlers came to Alaska. Russia was one of the first countries to establish settlements here. In 1867, the United States bought Alaska from Russia in what is known as the Alaska Purchase. This brought Alaska under U.S. control.

As Alaska grew, it faced many challenges and changes. In 1964, a very strong earthquake shook the region, causing damage in many communities. Over time, Alaska became a state in 1959, bringing more opportunities for its people. Today, Alaska is known for its natural beauty and resources, which continue to shape its history and future.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Alaska

Alaska is located in the northwest corner of North America, very near to Asia. It is the northernmost and westernmost state in the United States, and also has the most easterly longitude because the Aleutian Islands extend into the Eastern Hemisphere. Alaska is the only non-contiguous U.S. state on continental North America; about 500 miles (800 km) of Canadian territory consisting of British Columbia separates Alaska from Washington. The capital city, Juneau, is situated on the mainland but is not connected by road to the rest of North America's highway system. The largest lake in Alaska is Lake Illiamna.

Alaska is bordered by Canada's Yukon and British Columbia to the east, the Gulf of Alaska and the Pacific Ocean to the south and southwest, the Bering Sea, Bering Strait, and Chukchi Sea to the west, and the Arctic Ocean to the north. Alaska's coastal waters touch Russia's waters in the Bering Strait, as the Russian Big Diomede Island and Alaskan Little Diomede Island are only 3 miles apart. Alaska has a longer coastline than all the other U.S. states combined.

At 663,268 square miles (1,717,856 km²) in total area, Alaska is by far the largest state in the United States. It is more than twice the size of the second-largest state, Texas, and larger than the next three largest states combined. If it were an independent nation, it would be the 18th largest country in the world, almost the same size as Iran.

Alaska has more than 409,000 natural lakes. Glacier ice covers about 28,957 square miles of Alaska. The Bering Glacier is the largest glacier in North America.

Regions

Main article: Southcentral Alaska

The most populous region of Alaska contains Anchorage, the Matanuska-Susitna Valley and the Kenai Peninsula. Rural areas south of the Alaska Range and west of the Wrangell Mountains also fall within this region, as do the Prince William Sound area and the communities of Cordova and Valdez.

Main article: Southeast Alaska

This region, also called the Panhandle, is closest to the contiguous states. It contains the state capital Juneau, the former capital Sitka, and Ketchikan. The Alaska Marine Highway provides important transportation links throughout the area.

Main article: Interior Alaska

The Interior is the largest region of Alaska, much of it wilderness. Fairbanks is the only large city here. Denali National Park and Preserve is located here, including Denali, the highest mountain in North America.

The North Slope is mostly tundra with small villages. It is known for oil reserves and contains the Prudhoe Bay Oil Field. The city of Utqiaġvik is the northernmost city in the United States and is located here.

Main article: Southwest Alaska

Southwest Alaska is a sparsely inhabited region stretching inland from the Bering Sea. Most people live along the coast. Kodiak Island is here, along with the massive Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta.

Main article: Aleutian Islands

The Aleutian Islands are a chain of over 300 small volcanic islands stretching into the Pacific Ocean. Two of the islands, Attu and Kiska, were occupied by Japanese forces during World War II.

Land ownership

As of 2023 the United States Bureau of Land Management manages public lands including national forests, parks, and wildlife refuges. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is the world's largest wildlife refuge.

The state of Alaska owns a large amount of land under the Alaska Statehood Act. The University of Alaska also owns land as a land grant university.

Another portion is owned by Native corporations created under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971.

Cities, towns and boroughs

Further information: List of cities in Alaska and List of boroughs and census areas in Alaska

See also: List of Alaska locations by per capita income

Unlike most U.S. states, Alaska is not divided into counties. Instead, it is divided into boroughs. The most populous city is Anchorage.

Climate

Main article: Climate of Alaska

Alaska is the coldest state in the United States. The climate in the south and southeast is oceanic, with cool summers and mild winters. Juneau and Ketchikan receive a lot of precipitation each year.

The climate of Anchorage and south central Alaska is milder, with more snow and clearer days. It has brief, cool summers.

The climate of western Alaska is influenced by the Bering Sea and can vary widely in precipitation.

The interior of Alaska has a subarctic climate, with short, warm summers and very cold winters. Some of the highest and lowest temperatures in Alaska occur near Fairbanks.

The extreme north of Alaska has an Arctic climate with long, very cold winters and short, cool summers. Precipitation is light in this area.

Fauna

Main article: Wildlife of Alaska

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Alaska

The United States Census Bureau counted 733,391 people living in Alaska in the 2020 United States census, which was about 3.3% more than in the 2010 United States census. Alaska is the largest U.S. state by area but has one of the smallest populations, with only about 1.2 people for every square mile. It is also one of the least crowded places in the world.

Most people in Alaska are white, but many also belong to American Indian or Alaska Native groups, Asian groups, or Hispanic or Latin American groups. Many families in Alaska speak languages other than English at home, including Spanish, Asian languages, and Indigenous languages. Alaska has many different cultures and traditions because of its varied history and location.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Alaska

See also: Alaska locations by per capita income and List of Alaska companies

Alaska’s economy is shaped by its natural resources, especially oil and gas. The state gets most of its money from oil, and its biggest export after oil is seafood like salmon and crab. Other industries include fishing, government jobs, and small businesses. Many people work in natural resource extraction, shipping, and transportation, with military bases also playing an important role in places like Anchorage and Fairbanks.

Alaska has lots of energy resources, including oil, coal, and natural gas. The state also has great potential for hydroelectric power, wind, and geothermal energy. One special part of Alaska’s economy is the Alaska Permanent Fund, which saves oil money to pay dividends to people who live in the state. This fund started in 1976 and has grown to $50 billion. Each year, eligible Alaskans receive a share of the fund’s earnings.

Because Alaska is far from other states and has harsh weather, everyday items like food and fuel cost more there than almost anywhere else in the United States. Rural areas especially feel this, as getting supplies can be very expensive and difficult. Most farms are small and grow crops like potatoes and carrots, while many Alaskans also rely on fishing and hunting for food.

Culture

See also: List of artists and writers from Alaska

Alaska has many fun yearly events, like the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race from Anchorage to Nome and the World Ice Art Championships in Fairbanks. Festivals such as the Blueberry Festival and Alaska Hummingbird Festival in Ketchikan, the Sitka Whale Fest, and the Stikine River Garnet Fest in Wrangell are also popular. The Stikine River is home to the largest gathering of American bald eagles in the world.

The Alaska Native Heritage Center celebrates the traditions of Alaska's 11 cultural groups, helping everyone learn from one another. The Alaska Native Arts Foundation supports and shows Native art from all parts of the state online.

Music

Main article: Music of Alaska

Alaska's music comes from many places, including the traditional sounds of Alaska Natives and folk music from people who moved there from Russia and Europe. Famous musicians from Alaska include singer Jewel, flautist Mary Youngblood, and folk singer Libby Roderick. There are many music festivals, such as the Alaska Folk Festival and the Athabascan Old-Time Fiddling Festival. The Anchorage Symphony Orchestra is the main orchestra, with others like the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra and Juneau Symphony. Alaska's official state song is "Alaska's Flag", adopted in 1955, and it talks about the flag of Alaska.

Film and television

See also: List of films set in Alaska

Some movies were filmed in Alaska, including the 1983 Disney film Never Cry Wolf and the 1991 film White Fang, starring Ethan Hawke. Many reality TV shows are also filmed there.

Sports

See also: Alaska Sports Hall of Fame

Alaska has many exciting places to play sports, teams to cheer for, and special events to enjoy. In Anchorage, you can visit venues like Alyeska Resort, Chugach State Park, which has lots of trails for cross-country skiing, Mulcahy Stadium, Sullivan Arena, and the Alaska Airlines Center. Teams based there include the Anchorage Wolverines, Anchorage Bucs, Anchorage Glacier Pilots, Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves men's ice hockey, Rage City Rollergirls, as well as soccer teams like Arctic Rush, Cook Inlet SC, and Pioneer United FC.

Some fun events in Anchorage include the Great Alaska Shootout, a basketball tournament, the Sadler's Ultra Challenge wheelchair race, the Tour of Anchorage ski race, and the World Eskimo Indian Olympics. In Fairbanks, you can go to the Carlson Center and support teams like the Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks, Alaska Nanooks men's ice hockey, Fairbanks Ice Dogs, and Fairbanks Rollergirls, plus the Fairbanks SC soccer team. Events there include the Sadler's Ultra Challenge race, the Sonot Kkaazoot, and the World Eskimo Indian Olympics.

Other places in Alaska have teams such as MatSu United FC, Denali Destroyer Dolls, Kenai River Brown Bears, Mat-Su Miners, and Peninsula Oilers. Events include the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic, Arctic Winter Games, Mount Marathon Race, and the World Extreme Skiing Championship. Alaska is also famous for dog mushing races like the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Iron Dog, Junior Iditarod, Kuskokwim 300, Tustumena 200, and Yukon Quest.

Public health and safety

The Alaska State Troopers are the main police force for the whole state of Alaska. They started as an official group in 1941. Before that, different federal agencies handled law enforcement. Bigger towns have their own local police, and some small villages have "Public Safety Officers" who are trained but do not carry guns. In many areas, the Troopers are the only police around. They help with traffic, crimes, and also make sure hunting and fishing rules are followed. Because Alaska has many different landscapes, the Troopers use many kinds of vehicles on land, in the air, and on water.

Some rural areas in Alaska have rules against bringing in alcoholic drinks. Unfortunately, some serious problems exist in the state, including high levels of violence linked to alcohol use. It is important for everyone to stay safe and know who to turn to for help.

Health insurance

As of 2022^[update], CVS Health and Premera provide most private health insurance in Alaska. Premera and Moda Health also offer insurance through the national health care market.

Hospitals

Main article: List of hospitals in Alaska

Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage is the largest hospital in the state as of 2021. Anchorage also has Alaska Regional Hospital and Alaska Native Medical Center. Other big cities like Fairbanks and Juneau have their own hospitals too. In Southeast Alaska, the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium runs health services in 27 communities, including hospitals in Sitka and Wrangell. It started by serving Native Americans but now helps everyone in the area.

Education

See also: List of school districts in Alaska and List of high schools in Alaska

The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development oversees many school districts across the state. It also runs a special school called Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Sitka, and helps fund other schools like the Nenana Student Living Center and The Galena Interior Learning Academy in Galena.

Alaska has more than a dozen colleges and universities, such as the University of Alaska Anchorage, University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Alaska Southeast, and Alaska Pacific University. The state’s job training center, AVTEC, offers courses in fields like technology, welding, and nursing.

Many talented students from Alaska move away after finishing high school, which can make it hard for the state to keep its best minds. To help with this, Alaska offers special scholarships to top students. Small schools in rural areas also face challenges, as they need at least ten students to stay open.

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Alaska

Alaska has fewer roads than most parts of the U.S. The main road connects central areas and leads to the Alaska Highway, which goes through Canada. The capital, Juneau, cannot be reached by road and requires travel by ferry or plane. Some western parts of Alaska also lack roads, making travel difficult.

The Alaska Railroad helps connect many towns and cities. It runs from Seward through Anchorage and up to Fairbanks, with branches to other places. Ferries are another important way to travel, especially in coastal areas where roads do not reach. Many small villages can only be reached by plane, which is why Alaska has many small air services and pilots.

Communication

Alaska's internet and data systems are mainly provided by two big companies: GCI and Alaska Communications. GCI runs a network called the Alaska United Fiber Optic system. In 2011, Alaska Communications said it had special paths for data that reach to the rest of the United States and across Alaska. There were also plans for a very big project to help connect Asia and rural Alaska, with support from the government.

Law and government

State government

Main article: Government of Alaska

Alaska, like all U.S. states, is governed as a republic. It has three branches: an executive branch led by the governor; a legislative branch with the Alaska House of Representatives and Alaska Senate; and a judicial branch with the Alaska Supreme Court and lower courts.

The Alaska State Legislature has a 40-member House of Representatives and a 20-member Senate. Senators serve four-year terms and House members serve two-year terms. The governor also serves a four-year term.

State politics

Main article: Politics of Alaska

Further information: Political party strength in Alaska

Alaska has often supported Republican leaders in elections. Local groups focus on issues like land use, fishing, and tourism. Alaska Natives are active in their communities and manage lands given to them.

Taxes

Alaska relies mainly on money from oil and support from the federal government. This helps it have low taxes, with no sales tax or income tax for individuals. Some local areas do collect their own taxes.

Federal politics

Main article: Politics of Alaska

See also: Arctic Policy of the United States

Alaska usually supports Republican leaders in national elections. Republicans have won the state's electoral college votes in most elections. The state did support Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

Elections

See also: Ranked-choice voting in the United States and Nonpartisan primary

In 2020, Alaska voters approved changes to elections. These changes include needing campaigns to share where their money comes from and using a voting system where voters rank candidates.

Alaska's statewide elected officials

Mike Dunleavy, Governor

Lisa Murkowski, senior United States senator

Dan Sullivan, junior United States senator

Nick Begich III, U.S. representative