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Alaska Facts

Alaska Facts
The State of Alaska is located in the northwest of the North American continent. It shares an international border with Canada, including the province of British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. Alaska is located across the Bering Strait, and to the east of Russia. To Alaska's north is the Arctic Ocean and to its southwest is the Pacific Ocean. Although Alaska is the largest of all the states in the United States, it ranks 47th in population size. Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867, for roughly $7.2 million and it was not admitted to the Union until 1959, making it the 49th state. Prior to admission to the Union, Alaska was a territory instead of a state.
Interesting Alaska Facts:
Alaska has the longest coastline of any U.S. state, and it is longer than all the coastline of all the U.S. states combined.
Alaska is not included in the reference 'the lower 48', which means it is not part of the contiguous U.S.
Alaska's capital city is Juneau.
Alaska is two times as large as Texas. It is 586,400 square miles.
Despite the fact that there are no officially defined regions, Alaska has six regions generally accepted to exist, including South central, Southeast, Interior, Southwest, North Slope and the Aleutian islands.
The name Alaska is believed to be derived from an Aleut word.
Alaska is also known as Alyeska, meaning the great land.
Approximately 65% of Alaska is owned by the United States Federal Government.
Alaska's economy is heavily dominated by the natural gas, oil, fish and tourism industries.
Alaska has 29 volcanoes.
Alaska record low temperature was -80 degrees Fahrenheit, in Prospect Creek.
Alaska is home to Kodiak bears, polar bears, grizzly bears and moose, among many other species.
Alaska's state flower is the forget-me-not which grows very well in most of Alaska.
Alaska's state motto is 'North to the Future'.
Alaska's state tree is the Sitka spruce.
The state bird in Alaska is the willow ptarmigan.
The king salmon is the state fish. Some of these fish have grown to be 100lb. The king salmon is also known as the Chinook salmon.
Alaska's state sport is dog mushing.
Alaska's state mineral is gold. There was once a gold rush at Nome, Alaska, which began after Joe Juneau discovered gold in 1880.
During World War II the Alaska Highway was built to serve as a military supply route.
Japanese troops occupied Agattu, Attu and Kiska during the Second World War.
The largest national forest is located in Alaska; it is the Tongass National Forest.
Alaska's largest city is Anchorage, where nearly half of Alaska's population lives.
The third longest river in the United States is the Yukon River, located in Alaska.
Alaska has more than 3,000 rivers and 3 million lakes.
There are 22 indigenous languages spoken in Alaska by approximately 5.2% of the population.
A traditional native food is Eskimo ice cream, made of reindeer fat, seal oil, dried fish and berries grown in Alaska.
The most popular winter event held in Alaska is the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.


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