Alaska Details

Alaska is the largest state of the United States of America in terms of its area which is 570, 373.6 miles. This state is twice the size of Texas and covers one-fifth the size of the continental US. It is the country’s least densely populated state with approximately 683, 293 residents as of mid-2008. Alaska’s population is composed of different races and minority groups.

Alaska was first discovered by a Danish explorer named Vitus Bering in 1741 while on a voyage from Siberia. This discovery paved way for Russian whalers and fur traders to establish their first settlement in Alaska in 1784 on Kodiak Island and later in Sitka. These first settlers and their influence are still prevalent in Alaska’s Southwest and Southeast communities. In 1867, then US Secretary of State William H. Seward approved the purchase of Alaska from the Russian Empire for $7.2 million. It was around these dates when it large gold deposits in the state were discovered, triggering several prospector stampedes north.

Alaska was a valuable asset during the World War II when it served as a strategic planning area in the North Pacific. Its islands of Attu and Kiska were occupied by the Japanese after bombing Dutch Harbor. It was around these times when Alaska Highway was built in order to supply a land route for military equipments and supplies. It later became the 49th state of the United States on January 3, 1959.

Alaska, also known as The Great Land, has the largest state park system in the United States. It boost of 15 national parks, preserves and monuments which covers a total of 54 million acres. It is home to 17 of the nation’s 20 highest peaks, including Mt. McKinley North America’s tallest mountain with a height of 20,320 feet. It is where the nation’s most two largest national forests are located: the 16.8 million acres Tongass in the Southeast and the 4.8 million acres Chugach in Southcentral. It has an estimated 100,000 glaciers and more than three million lakes including Lake Illiamna in Southwest Alaska which is the second largest freshwater lake in the country. Alaska also has 80 percent of all the active volcanoes in the country.

Alaska’s state capital is Juneau and its largest city is Anchorage. This state is also called “The Last Frontier” and the “Land of the Midnight Sun”.