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Talking about gorgeousness in abundance, brimming with snow-white summits and granite peaks is Alaska which means “the great land”. It also enjoys the position of being the easternmost state with the most easterly longitude due to its long chain of Aleutian Islands that extends into the world’s Eastern Hemisphere. Alaskan lands are filled with active glaciers and ice fields that are more than in the rest of the inhabited world. It is a paradise where dreamy clouds embrace snowy summits and exhibit being lost in love forever.
Conversing about the mesmerizing yet unexplored facts about snow-covered Alaska, discover the 20 facts about Alaska that make the place distinctly spectacular.
1) Geographical Facts About Alaska

Alaska is located in the United States. To the east of Alaska lies the Yukon territory and it is bordered by the Canadian province of British Columbia.
In terms of area, it is the largest state in the U.S. It encompasses more total area than Texas, Montana, and California collectively.
Snow-fed Alaska is the westernmost and northernmost state. Utqiagvik is the northernmost tip of Alaska.
2) The Capital City of Alaska

Alaska’s capital is the city of Juneau, the state capital is located in the southeastern part of Alaska.
3) Population Facts About Alaska
With the lowest population density in the nation, in Alaska, the male-to-female ratio is the highest in the United States.
Glacial Alaska is very sparsely peopled and also the third least populated state in the U.S
In Alaska, the population density is one person per square mile which is the lowest in the U.S. Therefore huge crowds can explore and discover the marvel-filled treasured lands of Alaska.
4) Captivating Facts About Alaska
One of the captivating facts about Alaska is that it has more coastline on three different seas, the Bering Sea, the Arctic Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean giving vacay spots in plenty.
Sub-zero Alaskan lands are known for their freezing temperatures and the state is mostly covered with permafrost, which is the permanently frozen soil.
5) Economical Facts About Alaska
Alaska’s commerce and financial system are one of a kind as it is the only state in the U.S. that does not collect state sales tax or levy an individual income tax, however, some cities have a sales tax.
The economy of Alaska depends on the fishing, natural gas, and oil industries primarily.
6) The National Flag of Alaska
Alaska’s Flag was designed by Benney Benson, a seventh-grader who was a 13- year old boy in 1926. Upon Alaska’s adoption into the Union in 1959, it became the official state flag.
In the Alaska flag, the local flowers and the state’s sky are portrayed through the dark blue background while the eight stars that enhance the flag signify the North Star and the Big Dipper Constellation.
Alaska state’s official motto is “North to the Future”.
7) Historical Facts About Alaska
Alaska’s most areas were controlled by Russia from the late 1700s until 1867, however, later in 1867, the United States purchased Alaska from Russia for a price of 7.2 million dollars by the U.S. Secretary of State, William Seward.
The great land of Alaska was granted territorial status in 1912 by the United States of America.
On 3rd January 1959, Alaska was granted U.S. statehood.
8) Klondike Gold Rush of Alaska
Distinctive Alaska has a gold rush history, The Klondike Gold Rush of Alaska took place around the years the 1870s.
Alaska’s gold rush history sparked when Skookum Jim and his family, in the year 1896, August found gold near the Klondike River in the Yukon territory of Canada. This sighting by the family initiated one of the biggest gold rushes in the times gone by.
Neighboring miners immediately flocked to the site to stake the rest of the gold claims. Miners traded gold for potatoes as they were highly valued for their vitamin C content.
9) Glacial Facts About Alaska

Slow-moving and wonder-making Alaskan glaciers are around 100,000 in number and cover 5% of the state. Most glaciers in the U.S. are in Alaska.
Mendenhall Glacier is the largest glacier in the U.S. and is located in the Tongass National Forest, Alaska. In the year 1929, Mendenhall Lake was formed due to the retreat of the glacier.
The Mendenhall Glacier stretches across 13.6 miles. If kayaking across Mendenhall Lake, views of spectacular surreal ice caves can be seen that unfurl their beauty only to those who are inside the glacier. A climb over the glacier to enter the gorgeous ice caves will let the tourist enter a dreamlike world.
The Matanuska Glacier is the largest glacier in U.S. Alaska that is accessible by car.
10) Elevating Facts About Alaska

Being home to the 17 tallest peaks in North America and having 17 out of 20 highest peaks in the U.S., Alaska’s Mount McKinleynow known as the Denali is counted in North America’s tallest mountains.
Its vertical relief (distance from base to peak, towering more than 6,000 m above sea level) makes it the tallest peak in North America and it is located in Denali National Park.
Numerous glaciers and glacial valleys sail swiftly southwards of the Denali National Park and Preserve.
Denali National park encompasses the dominant and peak segments of the Alaskan Range. The stunning and picturesque valleys of Toklat, McKinley, and Foraker River enhance the valley’s beauty whereas running across the eastern edge of the park is the George Parks Highway.
Beautiful national parks, splendid wildlife, and the gigantic lofty Denali along with more than 3,000 beautiful rivers and 3 million placid lakes highlight this popularly renowned national park.
11) Greenwood Facts About Alaska
Alaska as a state in the United States is colossal. It is home to a few of the largest forests in the country. The Tongass National Forest spreads across 16.7 million acres and is exquisitely a host to a striking number and variety of wildlife.
Moose, mountain goats, foxes, seals, deer, beaver, porcupine, sea lions, whales, and sea otters are the magnificent wildlife present here. The primary means of travel are the rivers, in this area and it is challenging to traverse here without resorting to kayaking, sailing, or motor boating.
The Chugach National Forest sits at a smaller stretch of 700,000 acres according to the Alaska Forest Association. It is awe-inspiring due to the large assemblage of bald eagles found here.

12) Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis of Alaska

Known as the Land of Midnight Sun, around one-third of the Alaskan lands is in the Arctic Circle.
Northern Lights or the aurora borealis, that dance across the night sky are bands of luminously colored lights. Electrically charged particles from the sun collide with the gases in our atmosphere causing the dancing of bright colored lights that are called northern lights.
On an average of 243 days a year, the aurora borealis, or the northern lights are visible in Fairbanks. Arctic Circle is easily accessible from Fairbanks which gives perfect views of the stunning northern lights. In January, Fairbank’s average temperature is 1 degree.
13) Climate Facts About Alaska
The lowest temperature recorded at -80 degrees in Alaska in 1971 was at the Prospect Creek Camp while the highest was 100 degrees in 1915 in Fort Yukon.
Facts include the Arctic atmospheric conditions, with short, cool summers besides long and very cold winters. The lowest temperatures that are recorded in Alaska are the minimum in the U.S. During some weeks in the winter, the sun does not rise at all and during some summer weeks, the sun rises for 24 hours.
Prospect Creek is a very small settlement in Alaska. Years before, it was home to mining expeditions. It is now the site for Pump Station 5 (Jim River Station ) of the Taps, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. It is one of the world’s largest pipeline systems and is an oil transportation system spanning Alaska.
The most incredible fact about the Prospect Creek Camp is that wildlife can be unearthed even with the intense variations in temperature in this heavenly abode including black bears and bald eagles.
15) Alaska’s Largest River -Yukon River
Fun facts about Alaskan lands are that brilliantly glaring lands have more than 12,000 rivers that occupy almost 1,000 square miles of area.
Yukon River is the longest river in Alaska that stretches across 2,060 kilometers. It was a major means of transportation by the native North Americans, during the Klondike Gold Rush.
15) Alaska’s Largest Lake – Lake Iliamna
Alaska exhibits nature’s exquisiteness at its finest with its largest lake, Lake Iliamna.
Fun facts about Lake Iliamna are that it is almost the size of the state of Connecticut and ranks eighth in terms of area in the entire U.S. It is a habitat for a diverse variety of the marine natural world.
16) Athletic Facts About Alaska
Dog Mushing is Alaska’s state sport.
The state’s largest sporting event is the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. It mounted to popularity in the 1980s and comprised of a team of dogs that pull a sled which is used for races or pulling cargo across a snowy area. It was once used as the primary mode of transportation, by the Siberian Huskies.

17) Facts About the Islands of Alaska

The largest subspecies of brown bears of North America reside on Kodiak Island in Alaska. The largest subspecies of Kodiak bears can weigh up to 1,500 pounds and can be 10 feet tall when standing on legs.
To breed or haul out, about half of the world’s northern fur seals head to this surreal Island.
The first official Russian Colony was founded on Kodiak Island of Alaska in 1784.
18) National Days in Alaska
Seward’s Day is celebrated in March each year on the last Monday. The purchase of Alaska from Russians in 1867 is commemorated on this day.
18th October is celebrated by the Alaska natives as Alaska Day. On this day, Alaska was officially transferred to the U.S, from Russia.
19) Fun facts About Alaska
“The Last Frontier” is the nickname earned by Alaska due to the abundance of unsettled land.
Alaska’s state mammal is the moose which is similar to Maine and the Alaskan malamute is the state dog.
The state bird of Alaska is the Willow ptarmigan.
The Alaska State Fair is notorious for exhibiting large veggies and competing for world records. In the year 2012, Scott Robb held the world record for his 138.25-pound cabbage. Mardie Robb and Scott together held the record for the world’s largest turnip coming in at 39 pounds and 3 ounces.
20) Interesting Facts About Alaska
An interesting fact about Alaska is that the place is wild for moose hunting, and it is illegal to whisper in someone’s ear, in Alaska.
It is also illegal to wake a sleeping bear for a photograph.
Another interesting fact is that fishing and wildlife also play an important role in setting world records. In the year 1985, the largest salmon caught was in the Kenai River of Alaska.
Also, did you know that many rural communities of Alaska have banned alcohol due to its after-effects.
The Crowning Glory
Snow-quilted Alaska is filled with picturesque beauty that is beyond the mind’s eye making it a must-visit place to make memoirs that will be in your memory always. Alaska boasts of modern expedience while offering a captivating history to be amazed at along a set of incredible natural grandeur.
These facts about Alaska surely will give your traveler’s heart an urge to visit the place today!
Last Updated on by Himani Rawat