Alaska Facts

Alaska is the largest state.

Alaska is the largest state in the union at 656,424 square miles.

• Follow ups are Texas (268,601 sq. mi. / 2.44 x TX = 1 AK)
• California (163,707 sq. mi. / 4.01 x CA = 1 AK)
• Montana (147,046 sq. mi. / 4.46 x MT = 1 AK)
• New Mexico (121,598 sq. mi. / 5.4 x NM = 1 AK)
• Arizona (114,006 sq. mi. / 5.76 x AZ = 1 AK)

Why is it named Alaska?

The name Alaska is derived from the Aleut word "Alyeska," meaning "great land". It's pretty much western slang on a native language. Alaska's nicknames are the Last Frontier, Land of the Midnight sun, Seward's Icebox, or Seward's Folly. Its official nickname is "The Last Frontier."

What is the capital of Alaska?

Common answers to this question are Anchorage, Sitka, Juneau, and Fairbanks. The capital of the state of Alaska is Juneau. Sitka was the first capital of Alaska, when it was owned by the Russians. Sitka remained the capital until 1906 when the Territory moved the capital to Juneau.
Juneau is the current capital. It is also the largest city in the Southeast region and is the 3rd largest city in Alaska with 30,684 residents. Juneau is the only land-locked capital in the United States. A capital move has been on the voting ballot several times in recent years to move the capital to Wasilla, a town near Anchorage. So far it hasn't passed.

Does everyone live in igloos?

No. Most everyone lives in wood frame home, city apartments, log cabins, timber frame homes and other typical dwellings. Even most Eskimo live in wood frame homes, or pre manufactured homes. Igloos are still used for shelters by the natives when travelling in winter, and not as permanent living quarters.

When did Alaska become a state?

Alaska became the 49th state on January 3, 1959.

When was Alaska purchased from Russia, and for how much?

Secretary of State William H. Seward arranged for the United States to give Russia $7.2 million in 1867 for Alaska, a rate of 2 cents per acre! At the time when it was known as Seward's Folly or Seward's Icebox, American's of the lower 48 thought it was a bad deal, up until the gold rushes that began in the 1880's and then Klondike Gold Rush in 1896. Alaska is now the richest natural resource State in the Union. We now have buildings that cost that much.

What is Alaska's state bird?

The Alaska state bird is the Willow Ptarmigan. In the summer they are brown, in the winter their feathers are white with a spot of red above their eyes. Chicken, Alaska a small town near the Alaska-Canadian border just west of Dawson City, Yukon Territory was named so because after choosing "Ptarmigan" (pronounced tar-me-gan), as the name of their town they realized no one knew how to spell it so they agreed upon Chicken.

What is Alaska's state tree?

The Alaska state tree is the Sitka Spruce found throughout Southcentral and Southeast Alaska.

Alaska has more shoreline than any other state.

Alaska coastline which consists of 6,640 miles, and including islands, has 33,904 miles of shoreline. This does not include the shoreline of the thousands of miles of river, and shoreline of the hundred thousand or so lakes and ponds.

• Minnesota has 90,000 miles of shoreline, more than California, Florida and Hawaii combined.
• Michigan has 3,288 miles of shoreline.
• California has about 800 miles of coastline.