ALASKA FROM A TO Z

A IS AGRICULTURE, ARCHAEOLOGY, & AURORA BOREALIS

• Because of its unique location, Alaska is home of some of the best AGRICULTURE in the world. The state has only a few hundred farms that raise crops. Some farms raise reindeer, sheep, and cattle. The Alaska State Fair is held each fall just north of Anchorage. Alaska has 4-H Programs and chapters of Future Farmers of America. The State Soil is Estelle. The National Agriculture Statistic Service and AG in the Classroom provide agriculture information for kids.

• Alaska has many ARCHAEOLOGY programs and over a dozen archeology sites There are thousands of archaeological sites on federal public lands. April is Archaeology Month.

  The AURORA BOREALIS is also known as the Northern Lights. New observation techniques continue to increase the understanding of this beautiful aurora.

Alaska has many BIRDS The state bird is the Willow Ptramiga. Every year more bald eagles flock to southeastern Alaska than to any other area in the world. Alaska's arctic is the spring destination for many migratory birds. Kodiak has an International Migratory Bird Day. The Alaska Bird Observatory is the northernmost migration station in North America. The Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve has the largest concentration of bald eagles in the world. Birdwatching is popular and there are many Birding Hotspots. The Haines Highway is home to the largest gathering of bald eagles in North American during the fall months.
• Alaska has many BRIDGES. Some Bridges are located along the Alaska Railroad. The state has 3 covered bridges and 5 Suspension Bridges. The Mears Memorial Bridge is the longest bridge in the state. The Bering Land Bridge Preserve is a National Park and is a remnant of a land bridge that connected Alaska with Asia.

• The Alaska has scenic BYWAYS and HIGHWAYS. The Seward Highway is designated an All American Road". The Alaskan Highway was built during World War II to connect Alaska to the northernmost highways in Canada. The Haines Highway connects to the Alcan at Haines Junction and is the first part of a 380-mile loop to Skagway called the Golden Circle. The Marine Highway System is the most recent National Scenic Byway and serves areas that can only be reached by water.The state has many types of trails and participates in National Trails Day. Alaska has several Roadside Attractions.

• Juneau is the Capital of Alaska. It is the only state capital in the continental United States that is only accessible by boat or plane. There is a monument to Patsy the Dog who was the town greeter for many years.

• Alaska has all forms of COMMUNICATION including newspapers, radio, television, telephone, and internet. The telephone Area Code is 907. Internet Service Providers are located in the state,Internet Cafes and city libraries provide access for email and research. Webcams are located thoughout Alaska including a national weather service webcam, webcams at airports, and scenic webcams.

• Alaska does not have COUNTIES such as in the lower 48 states. The term county is used in 48 of the 50 state for the level of government below the state government. Alaska has Boroughs which are similar, but have different powers and a different relationship to the state government. There are no County Sheriffs in Alaska and law enforcement is done by state troopers or municipal police departments. North Slope Borough is the largest in size and Bristol Bay Borough is the smallest. Fairbanks North Star Borough has the largest population and Yakutat Borough has the smallest. Most of Alaska is populated by villages not cities and towns. Sitka is the largest city in the country in land area.

• Alaska has over 100 DAMS. Many generate electricity, and hydropower has played a vital role in the state's energy. The Department of Natural Resources monitors the dams in Alaska and there is a Dam Safety Program. Reservoirs formed by dams provide recreational opportunities. Wind Energy is being used and more projects proposed. Solar Power and 2 types of Geothermal Energy are being used commercially.

• The remains of DINOSAURS have been found in Alaska. The first Alaskan North Slope dinosaur bones were found in the mid 1980s. The remains of 7 types of dinosaurs have been identified from discoveries in Alaska . A variety of Fossils have been found in Alaska including some dating back to the Ice Age. The Wooly Mammoth is the State Fossil. Plant fossils provide evidence of how Alaska vegetation has responded to climate change.

• Each year Alaska has about 5 to 6 thousand EARTHQUAKES. Of the 10 strongest quakes recorded in the world, 3 have occurred in Alaska. Most of the largest earthquakes in the United States have occurred in Alaska. Tsunamis have been generated by earthquakes in Alaska. Other geologic hazards in Alaska include floods, permafrost, and avalanches. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has information for kids about earthquakes.

• EDUCATION in Alaska is largely state-funded. Information about all the schools in Alaska is available at GreatSchools and SchoolBug. Animals at the Alaska Sea Life Center are for education, research, and rehabilitation.

• Alaska has special EVENTS during the year including 2 State Fairs. Southeast Alaska has many festivals. The Alaska Irish Music Festival sponsors special Irish events. Kodiak hosts many events including a Crab Festival, Whale Fest, State Fair, and Rodeo, and the Russian New Year and Masquerade Ball. The Alaskan Scottish Club has Highland Games and other special events. The state observes Fixed Public Holidays and other holidays.

• Many species of FISH are found in Alaska. The State Fish is the Giant King Salmon. Most of the salmon, crab, halibut, and herring in the country come from Alaska. The state has several Fish Hatcheries. The streams, rivers, and coastal marine waters of Alaska have an abundance of fish and fishing is a major industry and a popular activity. Alaska celebrates National Seafood Month.

• The Alaska State FLAG was designed by a 7th grade student. It has 8 gold stars in the shape of the Big Dipper and is blue for the State Flower - the Forget-Me-Not. The State Song is "Alaska Flag" - the only state song that focuses on a state flag. The state capital, Juneau, has its own flag. The Tlingit & Haida have their own flag (I have not been able to find them).

• The FOOD eaten by the first inhabitants of Alaska - Russian emigrees, 19th century gold miners, and 21st century residents - was very different. People currently living in the state with ties to other cultures all enjoy their own versions of "traditional meals." There are several food specialties. The Food Bank of Alaska believes that no one deserves to be hungry. Alaska has Food Festivals, Shows, & Events. The Food Safety & Sanitation Program protects public health at regulated food, seafood, and public facilities.

• The GEOLOGY of Alaska is varied, and the state has many Hidden Treasures. The US Geological Survey provides information about the geology of Alaska including a map. The state has more active Glaciers and ice fields than the rest of the inhabited world.

• Alaska has about a dozen ghost towns. Some have buildings, cemetaries, and residents. The most spectacular ghost town is McCarthy. The old town hall in Knik is now the Dog Mushers Hall of Fame.

• The GLOBAL POSITION of Alaska is approximately 58 to 71 degrees latitude north and 150 to 165 degrees longitude west. Canada is to the east and south. Alaska is the farthest north, west, and east state because islands in the Aleutian Chain cross the international dateline. Point Barrow is the farthest north point of land in the country. About 50 miles across the Bering Straits lies a part of Russia called Siberia. The geographic center of Alaska is approximately 60 miles northwest of Mt. McKinley. Alaska is the largest of the 50 states. NOAA provides information about the topography of Alaska. Geocaching is a treasure hunt using a GPS device, and Alaska has several cache sites.

• Alaska has a Russian Heritage. A new organization called ROSSIA hopes to restore Russian Orthodox churches dating from the 19th century. Many of the 79 active churches are National Historic Landmarks. The first Russian Settlement in North America was established on Kodiak Island. The National Trust has projects and programs to help preserve historic places.

• The HISTORY of Alaska dates back to prehistoric times. Current history began in the 1700s when Peter the Great of Russia commissioned a Danish sea captain to explore the Northwest coast of Alaska. Alaska participates in National History Day.

• Alaska has nearly 200 ISLANDS. The largest islands include Kodiak, Prince of Wales, & Chichagof. The Aleutian Islands are a chain of 150 volcanic islands. An extensive cold-water coral garden is off these islands. Admiralty Island is a National Monument and has the largest concentration of bears in the world.

• Important INDUSTRIES in Alaska are oil, lumbering, fishing and tourism. The fishing industry is the largest private employer in the state. The Alaska Oil & Gas Association provides information about the oil and gas industry in the state. The Alaska Travel Industry Association promotes tourism in the state. The Alaska Railroad Industry supports a wide variety of industries in Alaska and the lower 48 states. Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute provides information on the fishing industry in the state. Several Trade Shows are held during the year.

• Alaska has many INSECTS. The University of Alaska has a collection of more than 100,000 insects (mostly aquatics) from Alaska and other regions. Alaska has several species of Damselflies and Dragonflies. The State Insect is the Four Spotted Skimmer Dragonfly. Several species of butterflies are found in Alaska.

• JADE is the State Gem. A large deposit of the gem includes an entire mountain on the Seward Penninsula. Other gems found in Alaska include quartz and cinnebar.

• JAZZ is popular in Alaska and there is a Jazz Festival at Seward and Sitka. Juneau has a Jazz and Classics Festival. Anchorage and Juneau have Opera companies.

• Alaska has KARST and caves. Few places in the world have karst and caves developed to the extent that it has in southeast Alaska. About 700 square miles of karst topography exists on Prince of Wales Island. El Capitan Cave is the largest known cave in Alaska. Cave explorers in Alaska have found cave paintings of people who lived thousands of years ago. The Karst Waters Institute provides information about karst water systems, and the National Park Service has a Cave and Karst Program. The National Speleological Society has a chapter in Alaska.

• Many aspects of life in Alaska focus on KIDS, and the state provides information Just for Kids. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has information related to MMS activities in the Alaska region. Kids Count Alaska is a program that provides information about the health, safety, and economic status of kids in the state. U.S. Senator/Alaska Lisa Murkowski has a special webpage for kids. Alaska has many camps for kids.

• The discovery of gold in the KLONDIKE region attracted people from all over the United States. Women played a major role in the development of Alaska especially during the Gold Rush. Gold is the State Mineral. Much work is being done to explore the other minerals in the state.

• Alaska has more than 3 million LAKES. The major lakes include Iliamna Lake, Aleknagik Lake, Bercharof Lake, Teshekpuk, Naknet, and Clark Minchumina Lake. The lakes have a tendency to fill in with vegetation which often leads to freezing which creates a hill known as a pingo. A lottery is held at Big Lake to guess when ice will break up.

• Public Libraries are located throughout Alaska. They have culturally responsive guidelines, special programs for children, and Friends of the Library groups. The Alaska Library Association takes an active interest in all libraries of all sizes.

• There are several LIGHTHOUSES in Alaska. Some of them are in the process of being opened to the public. The most important aspect of a lighthouse is the light that comes from the tower.

• The MILITARY has played an important part in the history of Alaska, and Air Bases are located in the state. The economy of Alaska began to grow during World War II when military bases were established in the territory. The Army Corps of Engineers has several projects in Alaska and is in charge of the Chena River Lakes. The Alaska National Guard maintains arsenals and is present in many communities.

• Alaska has many high MOUNTAINS. Mt. McKinley is the highest point in Alaska and in North America and is over 20,000 feet. Denali is the Indian name for Mt. McKinley and means �The Great One�. Other mountains over 15,000 feet include Mount Elias, Foraker, Bona, Blackburn, Sanford, Vancouver, Churchill, Fairweather, Hubbard, and Bear.

• Alaska has many MUSEUMS. The Sheldon Jackson Museum is the oldest in the state. The Museum of the Aleutians has one of the most state-of-the-art museums in the country on Unalaska Island. Pretty amazing considerering they are fairly isolated.

• The NAME Alaska comes from the Aleut word Alakshak meaning mainland or land that is not an island. The nickname of Alaska is "Land of the Midnight Sun. It is also called "Last Frontier" because residents lived so far from each other. The state has many Scots-Irish place names.

• Alaska has several groups of NATIVE PEOPLE. The Eskimo are the native inhabitants of the seacoast of the Arctic. Their own term for themselves is Inuit which means real people. They are very much involved in the modern world and have adapted much of its technology. The Alaska Native Heritage Center celebrates, perpetuates, and shares Alaska Native cultures.

• The Pacific OCEAN is to the south of Alaska, and the Arctic Ocean is to the north. The Gulf of Alaska is to the south, and the Bering Sea is to the west. Find out why the Ocean is Salty.

• Oil was discovered in 1968 at Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic Coast and is the largest oil field in North America. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline was built to transport oil to the lower 48 states. The largest oil spill in the U.S. so far was the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989.

• The World Eskimo/Indian Olympics are held in Fairbanks in July.

• Alaska has a variety of PARKS and Recreation Areas including 15 National Parks. The Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is the largest National Park in the country. There are 120 State Parks, and it is the largest State Park system in the country. National parks and wildlife refuges protect more than a third of the state. Alaska has 3 Planetariums.

• Permafrost lies within the Arctic Circle from a few feet deep to 2,000 feet deep and is defined solely by temperature.

• Alaska has a population of nearly 700,000 people. It is the largest state in area but one of the least populated. Many wellknown people have called Alaska home.

• The United States Mint issued a quarter for each state in the order that it became part of the Union. Alaska became a State on September 9, 1950 and a quarter was issued for it in the year 2008. The U.S. Mint has a special Kids Page

• QUILTING is popular in Alaska and there are several Quilting Guilds throughout the state. The state also has Weavers and Spinning Guilds.

• Take a map quiz about Alaska.

• Alaska is divided into four regions - Arctic, Interior, South Central, Southwest, and Southeast. The state is also divided into several areas - Pacific Mountain System, Aleutian Range, Brooks Range, Coast Mountains, the Arctic Mountain System, and the Central Uplands and Lowlands.

• Alaska has a variety of REPTILES and amphibians including frogs, toads, and sea turtles. Alaska is part of the USGS North American Amphibian Monitoring Program

• Alaska has more than 3,000 RIVERS including many wild and scenic rivers. The Yukon River is the longest river in Alaska and the third longest river in the country.

• Long hours of summer daylight and nutrient-rich currents support a wealth of SEA LIFE off the shores of Alaska including Rare Subarctic Sea Life. Giant kelp forests are home to numerous plant and animal species. The sea floor teems with life including fish crab urchins, jellyfish, anemones, starfish and plants. The Bowhead Whale is the State Marine Mammal. Sea otters are endangered. The Alaska Sealife Center is dedicated to maintaining the integrety of the marine ecosystem of the state. Alaska has excellent opportunities to experience saltwater fishing.

• The State Seal depicts the northern light, icebergs, and Native American People.

• Alaska has college, high school and league SPORTS teams. The State Sport is Dog Mushing and has been practiced in Alaska for centuries. The Iditarod Sled Dog Race is held in late winter. The Alaskan malamute sled dog was developed as a breed by a group of Eskimos named the Malemuits. The Musher's Hall of Fame is in Wasilla. Kodiak hosts the Pillar Mountain Golf Classic.

• Native Americans in Alaska raised totem poles in front of their houses. They celebrated legends, and events, or the wealth and crest of the family.

• Alaska has limited land transportation, but there is a railway system and several major highways. Bush planes, seaplanes, and helicopters provide much of the interior transportation. The state has several major airports and many small airports. Many of Alaska's coastal towns are most conveniently reached by water and the state has an extensive ferry system. The state of Alaska has a variety of license plates. To celebrate its birthday in 2002, Matchbox cars issued a vehicle for each state in the order in which it was admitted into the union. The vehicle for Alaska was the Snow Doctor.

• The State TREE is the Sitka Spruce. Almost 1/3 of the state is covered by forest, and 1/6 of the forest land is within the 2 National Forests. The Tongass National Forest is the largest National Forest in the country and has the largest temperate rain forest in the world.

• The United Nations Educational and Cultural Organization UNESCO protects natural and cultural properties around the world. Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve. Wrangell-St. Elias National National Monument is a UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Denali National Park is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The Aleutian Island UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and National Wildlife Reserve consists mostly of the Aleutian Islands and most of Amaknak Island.

• The UNIVERSITY of Alaska has 3 main campuses and several branch campuses. Alaska also has several colleges. The first College-level institution in Alaska was a Russian Theological School opened in Sitka in 1814.

• Four ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Alaska. The 1st ship was a wooden-hulled screw sloop-of-war that saw numerous small actions between the American Civil War and the Mexican-American War. The 2nd ship was a steam trawler chartered to serve as a minesweeper during World War I. The 3rd ship, the USS Alaska (CB-1), was the lead ship of her class of fast cruiser and saw action in the last days of World War II. The 4th USS Alaska (SSBN-732) is an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine.

• Alaska has a variety of vegetation and is part of the USGS Vegetation Mapping Program. The climate changes the vegetation of Alaska. The state has a number of of prohibited and noxious weeds but no endangered species. Unlike most of the states, little loss or fragmentation of habitats has occurred in Alaska. The Nature Conservancy helps perserve the land in Alaska. The State Flower is the Forget-Me-Not.

• Alaska has over a dozen active VOLCANOS, and several have erupted in recent times. The Federal Emergency Management has information for kids about volcanoes.

• The abundant precipitation in Alaska and rugged terrain produce a variety of WATERFALLS.

• The Alaska Climate Research Center provides information about the WEATHER in Alaska. The state falls into 3 major climate zones - maritime, continental, and arctic. The highest recorded temperature is 100 degrees and the lowest recorded temperature is -78 degrees. The highest recorded snowfall in 24 hours is 62 inches. In one year Thompson had 974 inches of snow. Monthly average temperatures range from a high of 70 degrees to a low of -21 degrees. The possibility of an Arctic Ozone Hole seems inevitable. Plant fossils provide evidence of how Alaska vegetation has responded to climate changes over millions of years. The Alaska State Climate Center and NOAA provide information about the weather. The Environmental Protection Agency provides information on the effect of Global Warming on Alaska.

• The WILDLIFE in Alaska is the most abundant in the country. Many of the animals are unique. The Land Mammal of Alaska is the moose. Reindeer were brought to Alaska from Russia in the 1800s. The state has many wildlife refuges. There are 3 species of bears in Alaska. Several species of animals are considered endangered. The Alaska Wildlife Refuge After School Program helps students learn all about the natural wonders of Interior Alaska during hands-on enrichment activities. Alaska is part of the Wildlife Protection System.

• XMAS is the abbreviation of Christmas and is celebrated in Alaska the same as it is in the rest of the United States. Kodiak has a Christmas fleet parade of vessels. The National Christmas Tree Association has games and puzzles for kids. The Russian Christmas is celebrated in early January. The town of North Pole is the northernmost Santa-themed tourist attraction in the country, and its theme is "Where the Spirit of Christmas Lives Year Round".

Alaska has several Youth Hostels. Some hostels are in cities, others offer backwoods experience, and one is in an American/Russian settlement. Alaska also has Elder Hostels.

• The use of a postal zip codes began in 1963. The zip codes in Alaska all start with 99. The postal code is AK.

• At one time Alaska had 4 TIME ZONES. It now has 2. Most of the state is in the Alaskan Time Zone and part of it is in the Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time Zone. The state is in the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 1-7.

• The Zoo in Anchorage promotes conservation of all wildlife species. The Alaska SeaLife Center provides care for sick and injured marine animals and has many exhibits.