STATE FACTS	Learn about Alaska's State Flag, State Seal, State Flower, State Sport, State Fish, State Tree, State Bird, State Mineral, State Land Mammal.
Geography	The land of Alaska is an area of 570,374 square miles (about 365 million acres). It is larger then the three largest states in the USA combined. The state has 33,904 miles of shoreline which is twice the length of shoreline in all of the lower 48 states combined. Alaska borders two oceans and three seas, while having three thousand rivers and approximately three million lakes. It is also home to North America's largest mountain, and more than ten thousand glaciers - of which, one, is larger than the state of Rhode Island.
Wildlife	There are more animals than people in the State of Alaska. Alaska has approximately 430 different species of birds. In addition, there are more bald eagles in Alaska then in all other states combined. Eagles can easily be spotted throughout the year. The state is also home to numerous types of mammals such as bear, deer, elk, moose, sheep, whales, and others. There are no reptiles found in the State of Alaska.
People	The population of Alaska is 607,800 people. This number is remarkably small compared to the size of the state. Currently, it is estimated one person per square mile. Therefore, much of the population is spread out while the other half (49%) reside in Anchorage, AK. Of the entire population only 94,000 Native Americans occupy the land which is only 16% of the total. Alaska is home to many different native tribes. As result, there are approximately 20 native languages spoken throughout the state. However, some of these languages are in risk of extinction.
Resources	The State of Alaska provides much to its economy and the rest of the country by its rich supply of resources. Fishing, Mining, Oil, and Timber are Alaska's main resources. Alaska is known as one of the highest resource producers in the world for these four categories.
Events	Various events are held annually throughout the state in both commemoration of the past and present. In the summer months, a celebration of the gold rush days are held to celebrate the history of the state and its people. Events are also held that celebrate the individual native tribes and their unique culture. Another great and well attended group of events are the fishing derbys that are held annually. Sport fisherman from all over the state gather to compete in this fishing sport.
History	Alaska was discovered by Vitus Bering in 1741. It was first settled by the Russians. The United States purchased Alaska from Russia for 7.2 million dollars in 1867. That works out to about 2 cents per acre. Alaska officially became the 49th state on January 3, 1959.
Government	Unlike the common forms of government in the rest of the United States, Alaska has some different and more unique ways of organization. There are two basic forms of local government that exist in the state of Alaska. The city and borough is created throughout the state which is similar to the various counties in other states. In addition, only thirteen of these boroughs are spread over one-third of the entire state. Therefore, Alaska still has most of its land mass unorganized in political subdivisions.
Transportation	Alaska has many various modes of transportation due to its different location and terrain. For many costal residents, the ferry is widely used. The ocean barge is also greatly used to transport vehicles and other supplies and freight. One of the main modes of transportation is small planes that are able to land on open water, frozen tundra, and at remote villages. The train is also still widely used in the state. It provides both the tranportation of coal and other supplies as well as providing transportation for residents and tourists in the summer time.
Climate	The state of Alaska is so diverse in the types of weather that occur. In the north, winter temperatures can commonly hit extremes of 60 below zero while the southeast can be a mild and comfortable 40 in the winter. The state is separated into various climate zones that are divided by the different mountain ranges which cover the state. Alaska is also subject to high rainfall on the coast and large amounts of snowfall around the state.
Communication	There is a long history of communication in the State of Alaska due to the many attempts that have been made to link this large terrritory. On May 29,1991, Alascom organized the communication system by implementing satellites in space. Since that time, many great strides have been made to make the communication system more adequate and effective. There are now certain systems that enable the residents of small remote villages to see and hear others thousands of miles away.
INDEX - Geography - Wildlife - People - Resources - Events - State Facts Fast Facts - History - Government - Transportation - Climate - Communication