The name Alaska stems from the native Aleut word ‘alax̂sxax̂’ or ‘alaxsxas’ which means ‘main land’ or ’the great land’.Alaska is the 49th state of the USA and the state capital is Juneau. Juneau is the only state capital in the US to border another country (Canada).Popularly known for Denali National Park, Lake Iliamna, its northern lights season, and the bone-chilling temperature, the Alaskan history, culture, and landscape are treasure troves of knowledge that excite fact and trivia junkies from the world over. Alaska is the largest U.S state, covering a whopping 665,384 sq. mi (1,723,337 sq. km), but has the lowest population density in the country. Geographically, it has a well-endowed landscape consisting of mountains with the highest peak in North America as well as several lakes, glaciers, and national parks. Over 224 federally recognized native tribes are residents of Alaska and there are 20 recognized native Alaskan languages.There is so much to learn about Alaska that even the most well-read people might not fair well on a ‘how well do you know Alaska test’. But with the help of these fun facts about Alaska, your chances are sure to improve.If you like this article, why not learn more about the animals in Alaska or read up some fun facts about Hawaii here on Kidadl?A History Of Alaska’s StatehoodAlaska was incorporated into the Union in 1867 and as the 49th state of the USA in 1959. But, way before that, the area was under Russian rule from the 1770s to 1867. The Russians found great wealth here in the form of animal furs. However, by the 1860s, over-hunting had depleted the supply of furs and Russia found it difficult to maintain bases so far away from their mainland. So in 1867, they sold Alaska to the USA for $7.2 million. The purchase was led by then U.S Secretary of State, William Seward. Critics, who were convinced that the land had nothing to offer, initially called the purchase ‘Seward’s Folly’. But that perspective changed in the 1880s when gold was discovered in Alaska. What followed was an unprecedented flocking of over 100,000 prospectors and settlers to the region.The Gold Rush caused the population in Alaska to soar rapidly. Gold mines were developed along with other industries such as the salmon industry which is now the world’s largest. With these developments, Congress turned Alaska into a judicial land district with its own federal district courts and a school system. In 1906, Alaska’s first representative to Congress was elected and in 1912, the Territory of Alaska with an elected legislature was established. The Alaskans voted for statehood in 1946 and adopted a constitution in 1956. And finally, the Alaska statehood bill was approved in 1958 which was followed by formal entry into the union in 1959.From Highest Peak In North America to Denali National ParkAlaska is perhaps most famous for its geography and wildlife. It contains 17 of the 20 highest peaks in the U.S, including Denali, the tallest peak in North America standing at 20,320 ft (6,193.5 m) above sea level. The state is also home to over 3 million lakes and over 3,000 rivers, with Lake Iliamna being the state’s largest lake. Perhaps the most stunning part of Alaska’s terrain is the predominance of ice. Glaciers cover almost 3% of its surface above sea level. The Bering Glacier, at 2,250 sq. mi (5,827.5 sq. km), is the largest of the 100,000 glaciers in the state. Alaska is home to over 40 active volcanoes too. Being a peninsula, Alaska’s coastline extends roughly 34,000 mi (54,717.7 km), which is more than the rest of the U.S combined.Wildlife and vegetation are abundant in Alaska. The vast, 16 million-acre (64,749.7 sq. km) Tongass, which is the largest national forest in America, is located here. The northern reaches of the state are covered with tundra. Home to 70% of the bear population in Northern America, its Denali National Park alone is home to 39 mammals, 169 birds, and a single amphibian, the wood frog! This includes grizzlies, black bears, Kodiak bears, migratory birds, reindeer, and wolves. The national park also has the official state animal, the Alaska moose, and the state bird, the willow ptarmigan. Alaska also has rich marine life including fur-bearing seals, sea otters, sea lions, walrus, and whales.Weird Facts About Alaska To Tickle Your Funny BoneAlaska has some weird, and cute facts that are sure to bring a smile to your face. For example, did you know that the state flag was designed by 13-year-old Benny Benson in 1926 as part of a flag designing contest? Yep! Benny took inspiration from the sky and the northern lights to design a flag comprising the Big Dipper constellation and the North Star. Needless to say, he won. Another example, the Alaska State Fair is an annual agricultural fair that takes place in Palmer, 42 mi (67.6 km) northeast of Anchorage. Why is it special? Farmers at this fair have routinely displayed vegetables of gigantic sizes. A 138 lb (62.6 kg) cabbage, 65 lb (29.5 kg) cantaloupe, and 35 lb (15.9 kg) broccoli have been showstoppers in recent years. These crops are said to grow to such enormous proportions due to the long hours of summer sunlight.Alaska also has a host of weird animal-centric legislation. Did you know that it’s illegal to give beer to a moose or to push a moose off a plane? Wonder what triggered that. It is also understandably illegal to wake a bear for photography.Cool Facts About Alaska You Did Not KnowHere are some facts for those who are forever on the search for a ‘coolness’ quotient.The northernmost, westernmost, and easternmost points of the United States are all found in Alaska. The Aleutian Chain holds all three furthest points, the northern Point Barrow, Pochnoi point on Semisopochnoi Island in the east, and Amatignak Island in the west (because it lies to the east of the 180-degree longitude). Confused? A quick look at a globe will put your mind at ease.Alaska is known as the Land of the Midnight Sun. Being close to the North Pole, Alaska has super long days in summer with over 20 hours of sunlight and twilight. Close to the summer solstice in June, it doesn’t get completely dark at all. The summer solstice of 2020 came with 22 hours of daylight.Located under the Auroral Oval, one can see the northern lights from Fairbanks for more than 240 days a year. But the phenomenon is often best seen between August to April because that is when the sky is darkest for the lights to be visible.The Iditarod Trail Race holds the Guinness record of being the longest annual sled dog race in the world. Racers brave an extreme temperature of close to -100 F (-73.3 C) to cover a track of 1,049 mi (1,688.2 km). Dog mushing is also the state sport!So that’s our collection of fun facts about Alaska, we hope they managed to pique your interest in the 49th state!Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for facts about Alaska then why not take a look at facts about trees or Florida animals?
The name Alaska stems from the native Aleut word ‘alax̂sxax̂’ or ‘alaxsxas’ which means ‘main land’ or ’the great land’.
