Alaska Atlas

Alaska facts and history plus travel and tourism information.

Capital: Juneau
Abbreviation: AK (postal)
Area: 615,230 square miles
State Bird: Willow Ptarmigan
State Tree: Sitka Spruce
State Flower: Forget Me Not
State Motto: North to the future
Nicknames: The Last Frontier, The Land of the Midnight Sun

Alaska was purchased by the United States from Russia in 1867 for seven million dollars and became the 49th American state on January 3, 1959. During the Gold Rush in the 1880s and 1890s, exploration of the territory increased, but the wild regions of Alaska are still largely undiscovered due to powerful natural forces.

Millions of lakes, thousands of glaciers, nearly two thousand islands, and the highest mountain in America, Denali, help make up Alaska's rugged landscape. In the summer, the days are long, but Alaska's winter is cold and dark. Inuit people in the Arctic north have resided in Alaska for centuries, but new settlers and adventurous tourists are lured to Alaska by bears, whales, salmon, and a vast wilderness.

Alaska's major cities include Anchorage, Fairbanks, College, and Juneau. The state's economy focuses around gold, silver, copper, tin, mercury, oil, tourism, and delicious wild Alaskan salmon.

Alaska Map

Alaska Links

1. Alaska Government - official Alaska state website.
2. Travel Alaska - Alaska travel and tourism.
3. National Parks in Alaska
4. Alaska QuickFacts - from the US Census Bureau.
5. 50States.com - Alaska

Alaska Resources

• Alaska Real Estate - real estate information about Alaska.
• Alaska Colleges and Universities - higher education institutions in Alaska.
• Alaska Libraries - list of libraries in Alaska.

Alaska History and Geography