What is special about Alaska? Is this a unique piece of land or it is purely abundant in natural resources? Based on history, Alaska was sold by Russia to William Steward, the Secretary of the State in the year 1867 for $7.2 million. The place was then called “Seward’s Folly” or “Seward’s Iceberg.” Many Americans consider the place as the frozen wasteland. Later on, it became a state in 1959 and it is the very first to join the Union in 47 years. The place is not a frozen wasteland as many believe because it is filled of natural resources. Today, it is the largest when it comes to fishing industry. Rivers and seas have abundant supply of shrimps, salmons, halibuts, Dungeness crabs, and more. Gold and oils are even produced. Wildlife is amazing. Watersheds are well protected.
It is the biggest state in America. It is known not just for the freshest salmons but the tallest mountains, famous floras and faunas, historical sites, forests, lands, rivers, etc. Since it is located north, the place is literally freezing during the winter. So, bring your coat with you if you travel the winter season.
Have you ever heard of Beringia? This is a land bridge dated many years ago, a bridge that connects Russia to Alaska and Canada. Beringia’s name was changed to Bering Straight. If you are a traveler, fly to Alaska and experience the Alaskan way of life. it is simple. Just like famous states, the place is progressive. It has the best facilities to offer and places to see. Economy is good. People have their jobs. Kids go to school. Public transportation is excellent. However, the weather condition is at its extreme. During summer, the sun stays up for 20 hours. The sun does not set from the 10th of May to the 2nd of August. If you like to experience weather at its extreme, this is the right place for you. This is the land of extreme contrasts because you can experience the coldest nights and the hottest daylights. This is the coldest state. During the days of January, temperature may fall to -2 degrees. Despite the vast area, population is small. Overpopulation is not an issue for Alaskan people. This is why each individual can have his own square mile of land. The extreme temperature is one of the reasons why population is relatively small compare to the other states.
Mount McKinley is the tallest mountain at 20,320 feet above sea level. This country has more coastlines compared to other states. Anchorage, the place’s largest city is the “Air Crossroads of the World” functions as the refueling base for many flights. Other cities are Sitka and Juneau. In remote villages, there are Eskimos or Inuits. If you are interested with the Eskimos then travel to remote villages. You can see them running their own dog sleds just to hunt polar bears. With the modern inventions, snowmobiles slowly penetrate replacing the traditional dog sleds of the Eskimos. With the popularity of dog sleds, international races are made possible right on the Iditarod Trail. See also the Valley of Ten Thousands Smokes. The place has many active volcanoes. Be careful, you may head the wrong way in the state’s Arctic region due to the “white out.” Alaska’s name originated from Aleutian which means peninsula or great lands. Its abbreviation is AK.
The Alaskans are nature-friendly. They are excellent in utilizing the sustainable and renewable resources. With the place’s forests, rivers, wildlife, and public lands. This is why ACE or the Alaska Center for the Environment works excellently to protect the place’s precious wealth and history.





