COLD LAND
OCTOBER 28, 2022
Alaska : A Land Of Seafood And Midnight Sun
With abundance stock of seafood and breathtaking scenery, Alaska is by far one the most challenging states to travel in the United States.
OVERVIEW
Alaska is a state of the United States located in the Western United States in the far northwest of North America. Alaska is a US semi-exclave bordered by land with the Canadian territories of the Province of British Columbia and the Yukon Territory to the east and by sea with the Russian territory in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug to the west, just across the Bering Strait.
The name “Alaska” (Russian: Аля́ска, pronounced: Alyáska) was introduced during colonial Russia when the name was used to refer to the Alaska Peninsula. “Alaska” comes from the Aleut idiom, “alaxsxaq”, which means “land” or more literally, “the object towards which the sea acts”.
LARGE SIZE
By the size of area, Alaska is the largest US state. Alaska is the 7th largest subnational division in the world. This state is the third least populated and the most sparsely populated in the United States.
The state capital is Juneau, the second largest city in the US by area, even larger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware. The former capital of Alaska, Sitka, is the largest city in the US by area.
Besides having a large area of glaciers and lots of rivers, Alaska also has lots of lakes. According to records, Alaska has 3 million lakes! Alaska is ranked first for the state in the United States that has many lakes. Alaska itself is the state of the United States that is richest in natural resources.
CLIMATE
The climate in Juneau and the southeastern panhandle is a mid-latitude marine climate. The climate in the far north of Alaska is what one would expect for areas north of the Arctic Circle — it is an arctic climate with long, very cold winters and short, cool summers.
The coldest area in the United States is in Prospect Creek, Alaska. The coldest temperature recorded was -62.2 °C (−80 °F).
HISTORY
The Russian Empire was the first to actively colonize the area since the 18th century, eventually establishing Russian America, which spans most of today’s states.
After the end of the American Civil War, the US Secretary of State, William Seward, negotiated the purchase of Alaska with the Russian Minister, Eduard de Stoeckl.
The cost and difficulty of maintaining possession of this distant Alaska prompted the Russian Empire to sell it to the US in 1867 for US$7.2 million (equivalent to $140 million in 2021). Alaska was recognized as the 49th US state on January 3, 1959.
By selling Alaska to the United States, Russia hopes to get some money that can help reduce the financial burden and prevent other European countries from gaining access to the region. About 50 years in the hands of the US, Alaska actually brings a profit that is 100 times the purchase price.
Another reason was Russia fearing they would lose the territory if war broke out with Great Britain. The main Russian activities in the area were the fur trade and missionary work among the Alaskan natives.
LONG MIDNIGHT SUN
Alaska is a state with long daylight. This state of the United States will experience the midnight sun for approximately 90 days from May to July. These months are the peak of summer in America.
Citing from the Condé Nast Traveler website, Fairbanks in Alaska is the place with the longest daylight hours in the world. In summer, daylight in the city reaches 21 hours 50 minutes (1,310 minutes).
TOURISM
The tourist season in Alaska lasts from mid-June to mid-August, which are known as the months with the best weather. If you are impatient to be in the crowd of tourists, you can have a visit around April, May and September. Cruise season in Alaska lasts from late April through September.
Alaska has an abundance of seafood, with the main fisheries located in the Bering Sea and the North Pacific. Seafood is one of the few foods that often costs less in the state than other states. Many Alaskans take advantage of salmon season to harvest their household’s portion of the food while fishing for a living, as well as sport.
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