Alaska Facts

Alaska is an extraordinary destination for a wide range of reasons. Size and sheer magnitude, wildlife, nature and outdoors experiences are just a few of these reasons.

Many are familiar with the vintage 1970's post card showing Alaska superimposed on the continental U.S. in order to illustrate the 49th state's tremendous size. Although Texans like to think their state is big, the Lone Star State has nothing on the last frontier: Alaska is twice the size of Texas. The treeless area of permafrost in Alaska's northernmost region itself is three times the size of California.

Besides geographic area, Alaska is impressive for its mountainous areas, which are unlike anything found in the United Sates. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, 19 of the top 20 highest elevation summits in North America are in Alaska. Denali National Park is home to Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in North America at 20,320 feet. Alaska is like a country of its own, and the recreation, hunting and fishing opportunities varies considerably depending on where you go.

Alaska vacations are almost synonymous with adventure. Over a million-and-a-half people flock to the state in just the summer months to play and sight-see. Tourism is big business, from the hordes who pour out of cruise ships every summer to the intrepid visitors who take advantage of winter sports, including the world-famous Iditarod sled dog race. Alaska ranks #2 among all U.S. vacation spots.

While many people think of Alaska as a summertime destination, dog sledding, skiing, snowmobiling, and even snow biking are popular recreations - or simply modes of transportation. The Northern Lights are best viewed in winter's dark skies but can be seen in spring and fall as well. Fairbanks is a prime destination for those seeking the electric green and purple flickers of the aurora borealis.

Alaska has the largest state park system in the U.S., with the largest measuring 1.6 million acres. Sixty-five percent of the state is federally managed, including 15 national parks. All this unspoiled wilderness present innumerable opportunities for adventure. Hiking, fishing, hunting, bird-watching, and wildlife viewing accompany unique activities such as dog mushing and safari off-roading. There's even glacier trekking for those fit to the task, and glacier flight-seeing, for those who aren't.

Alaska is sparsely populated, sitting at approximately 670,000 residents in 2006) and its cities are relatively small. Southeast Alaska is home to Juneau, the only state capitol in the U.S. that is not accessible by major highway - unless you count the marine highway. Southeast is also a popular destination for sport fishing, with hundreds of charters operating out of fishing villages such as Sitka, Ketchikan, Skagway, and Petersburg. Anchorage is of course the largest city, and it has sprawled along the highway corridor to the north. The state has seen a loss of population in rural areas, particularly north and west of Fairbanks, Alaska and in the Aleutians and southeast Alaska.

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