Interesting Facts About Alaska
Interesting and Funny Facts About Alaska
Many people forget that Alaska is part of the United States. Alaska, though separated from the rest of the country by a rather large Canadian divide (eh?), is America’s largest single state.
Did you know that Alaska has over three thousand rivers and over three million lakes. If it was a little warmer it would be the perfect cottage destination! Alaska also has over fourteen thousand miles of coastline and it shares a border with Canada’s Yukon Territory. In fact, Alaska has more coastline than the rest of the United States combined.
Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage, covers nearly two thousand square miles. The state of Rhode Island covers just over one thousand square miles, and Deleware covers just under two thousand square miles. That’s a big city!
If Alaska were to separate from the United States, it would become a sovereign nation that is as large as England, France, Italy, and Spain combined. It’s vast oilfields and fisheries would give it a strong sustainable economy, and its departure from the United States would reduce the size of America by nearly thirty percent!
Did you know that there is only once city in Alaska with a population larger than seventy thousand people? If the rest of the United States had the same population density as Alaska, Manhattan would only have sixteen people living in it (where’d everyone go?). Alaskans also love to fly, as Alaska has the highest pilot per capita ratio than any other state. This makes complete sense as the Alaskan capitol, Juneau, has no road access to the rest of the state.
What’s even more interesting is that Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867 for less than seven and a half million dollars (it brings a tear to any real estate agents eye), and it was originally settled due to the high quality furs which could be found there. In the 1890’s gold was discovered, bringing a rush of people to the state in an attempt to capitalize on it.
Though Alaska was purchased for around 5.9 cents per acre, the economic value of Alaska has been immense. In fact, Alaska is one of the richest states in America, pumping out over thirty-nine billion dollars per year into the economy. This is due to the oil and gas industry, as well as the emerging and extremely lucrative fisheries. Alaska accounts for over twenty-five percent of the United States’ total oil production.
Alaskan Wild Salmon is one of the most sought after sources of Salmon on the planet, and the largest Alaskan King Salmon every caught by a rod and wheel was over 100 pounds!
Lastly, Alaska is a mere three miles away from Russia (though they are separated by water). How’s that for a “great divideâ€?
