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1. The name ‘Alaska’ is derived from an Aleutian word alaxsxaq which means the “object toward which the action of the sea is directed.”
2. Alaska is the largest state of all the states of United States and is one-fifth of the entire land area of the US.
3. On July 7, 1958, the U.S. Congress declared Alaska as the 49th state.
4. The total area of Alaska is as twice as Texas.
5. The capital of Alaska, Juneau, can be accessed only by sea or by air
6. Alaska was discovered by a Danish explorer, Vitus Bering in 1741.
7. In 1784 Gregor Shelekhov, a fur trader set the first settlement on Three Saints Bay on Alaska’s Kodiak Island.
8. It was sold by Russian in 7.2 million dollars but Russian rulers regretted later when gold deposits were found in Alaska.
9. The distance between the extreme points of Russia and Alaska does not exceed 3.5 km!
10. Alaska has more than three million lakes, about three thousand rivers, one hundred thousand glaciers and about seventy active volcanoes.
11. Alaska is the most popular state for flying in the U.S.
12. One third of Alaska is in the Arctic Circle. It’s very cold in Alaska.
13. The lowest temperature was recorded -62.2 degree Celsius in 1971.
14. In one of the cities in Alaska, the mayor for more than fifteen years was a cat.
15. In spite of the fact that bears are allowed to hunt, it is forbidden to wake sleeping bears in order to photograph them.
16. The flag of Alaska was drawn by a thirteen-year-old boy who took part in the competition for the best state flag and he won.
17. Golden stars on the blue flag of Alaska represent the constellation of the Big Dipper and the North Star, which enters the constellation of the Little Ursa.
18. Earthquake is very common in Alaska. The second strongest in the history of the earthquake occurred here, in 1964.
19. The 1964 earthquake was so powerful it was even heard in Africa.
20. The highest tsunami in the world was recorded in 1958 in Alaska, when the glacier hit the lake, causing a wave more than half a kilometer in height.
21. Alaska is considered the richest state of the United States.
22. The population of Alaska speaks 22 different languages.
23. Alaska has the lowest population density in comparison to all the other states.
24. Alaska has a pizza restaurant that delivers pizza on airplane.
25. There is a variety of frogs in Alaska that freezes in winter, the heartbeat stops, and the frog doesn’t breathe. But as soon as spring arrives frog return to the normal condition.
26. In Alaska, there is only one railroad that connects the cities of Seward and Fairbanks. But it’s special: a passenger can take a train from anywhere. All you have to do is show white scarf or handkerchief.
27. The coast of Alaska goes to three different water bodies – the Arctic Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean and the Bering Sea.
28. Alaska has about a fifth of all US oil reserves.
29. There are 20 highest peaks in the United States and 17 are in Alaska.
30. In 1897 during the Klondike Gold Rush, potatoes were so highly valued for their vitamin C content, that miners traded gold for them.
31. Interior Alaska is known for its many natural geothermal hot springs.
32. Alaska has no plants poisonous to the touch such as poison ivy or poison oak which are found in all other states.
33. Pribilof Island is home to about 1 million seals.
34. English and 20 other indigenous languages are official language of Alaska.
35. Alaska has more coastline than the other 49 states combined.
36. Because of their long summer days, Alaska is capable of producing some unusually oversized produce. Some notable specimens that have been harvested in recent years include a 35-pound broccoli, a 65-pound cantaloupe, and a 138-pound cabbage.
37. Tongass National forest, Alaska is the largest forest of US.
38. There are 107 men for every 100 women in Alaska, the highest male-to-female ratio in the United States.
39. Many hotels in Alaska offer Northern Lights wake-up calls upon request.
40. The Northern Lights can be seen 243 days a year in Fairbanks.
41. The largest salmon caught in Alaska was on the Kenai River. It weighed in at 97.5 lbs.
42. Barrow, Alaska has the longest and shortest day. When the sun rises on May 10th, it doesn’t set for nearly 3 months. When it sets on November 18th, residents don’t see the sun for nearly 2 months.
43. It is illegal to whisper in someone’s ear while they are moose hunting in Alaska.
44. Dog mushing is the state sport of Alaska
45. Most of America’s salmon, crab, halibut, and herring come from Alaska.
46. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline transports up to 88,000 barrels of oil per hour on an 800-mile journey to Valdez.
47. In year 2001, a drunken man fired at an oil pipeline, he has to pay 17 million dollars fine and received 16 years of jail.
48. Three groups of natives lived in Alaska: Eskimos, Aleuts, and Indians.
49. Animals such as reindeer and moose are the property of the state.
50. If any accident happens then citizens are required to report this to the state authorities. Special services then take the animal, and its meat is distributed to poor families.
51. In Alaska, there is 1 bear for every 21 people.
52. In 1865, the Western Union Telegraph expedition, led by William Dall, surveyed the interior of Alaska for the first time, revealing its vast land and resources
53. Alaska is one of the few states that do not depend on production. The largest branches of private entrepreneurial activity are fishing and the seafood industry.
54. The economy of Alaska is maintained on the extraction of oil, gas, copper, gold, zinc, iron, reindeer, tourism and fishing.
55. In 1913, women in Alaska were granted the right to vote—six years ahead of the 19th Amendment
56. The Red Dog zinc mine in northwest Alaska is the world’s largest zinc producer.
57. The Adak National Forest in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, is the smallest National Forest in America, with only 33 trees
58. A company in Alaska has developed a powdered beer for backpacking
59. There is a mile-long zip line in Hoonah, Alaska, that starts 1,300ft above sea level and reaches speeds of up to 60mph
60. Lake Iliamna-Alaska’s largest lake is roughly the size of Connecticut.
