Alaska Geography

Basic Facts

• Geographical Region: West
• Size: 656,425 sq.mi., 1st rank overall.
• Admitted to Statehood: January 3, 1959
• Population: 698,473;47th rank overall.
• Capital: Juneau
• Other Major City: Anchorage
• Abbreviation: AK

Fun Facts

• Nickname: The Last Frontier
• State Flag: Click Here (opens window to 50states.com)
• State Bird: Willow Ptarmigan (opens window to 50states.com)
• State Flower: Forget Me Not (opens window to 50states.com)

Geographical Description

• Alaska's coastline is 33,000 miles, longer than all other U.S. states combined.
• A long peninsula exists in the extreme south of the state. It is called the Alaska Peninsula and the volcanic islands known as the Aleutian Islands are located here. The grass-covered and treeless Aleutian Range runs down the center of the peninsula containing several active volcanoes.
• Alaska boasts thirty-nine mountain ranges. The most famous mountain range is the Alaska Range covering the central portion. Alaska's highest point is Mt Mckinley standing 20,320 feet above sea level.
• The Rocky Mountain System of Alaska covers the northern section of the state. It includes the Brooks Range and the Brooks Range foothills. Mountain peaks here rise to about 9,000 feet above sea level.
• The northern coastline is characterized by flat, treeless arctic tundra called the Arctic Coastal Plain. It is the land of permafrost, where the ground is permanently frozen.
• Extending through the central part of the state is the Central Upland and Lowlands area. The low, rolling hills and swampy river valleys such as the Koyukuk, Kuskokwim, Tanana and Yukon rivers make up this portion.

Map: Relief Map of AK

Industry

Petroleum and natural gas, commercial fishing, gold and other mining, food processing, lumber and wood products, fur trapping, tourism

Agriculture

Greenhouse products, seafood, nursery stock, dairy products, vegetables, livestock

Other Information

Fun Facts:

• Alaska was first discovered by a Danish explorer named Vitus Jonassen Bering in 1741 on his voyage from Siberia.
• The first battle fought on American soil since the Civil War occurred when Japan invaded the Aleutian Islands, which sparked the One Thousand Mile War.
• Alaska's oil production accounts for a quarter of the total U.S. oil production.
• Alaska has the lowest population density in the nation.
• Alaska comes from the Eskimo word Alakshak meaning great lands or peninsula.

More Fun Facts: http://www.50states.com/facts/alaska.htm