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Table of Contents
Alaska is the largest state in the United States. For thousands of years, Alaska was inhabited by indigenous groups, which included the Aleuts, Northern and Southern Eskimos, Interior Indians, and Southeast Coastal Indians before European colonization. Alaska is famous for its glaciers and national parks.
See the fact file below for more information on Alaska or alternatively, you can download our 33-page Minnesota worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
THE FLAG AND THE GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION OF ALASKA
- Alaska is the largest state in the United States, covering an area of 1,723,337 km2, three times the size of the Iberian Peninsula, 2.5 times the size of Texas, and 76 times the size of New Jersey.
- The name Alaska is derived from the Aleut (a name given by the Russian traders to the Unangan who had to and still rely on the sea for their livelihood) words ‘alaxsxa’ or ‘alaxsxix’ which both mean ‘mainland’ or ‘great land’.
- Juneau is the capital city of Alaska.
- Alaska’s flag has two components: the blue background and the stars.
- The blue color symbolizes the sky, sea, lakes, and wildflowers found in Alaska.
- The biggest star, Polaris (the North Star), symbolizes Alaska’s northern location.
- The smaller stars form the Ursa Major (Great Bear), which symbolizes strength.
- Alaska is considered the home of the most spectacular geographic sceneries in the United States, including its 17 highest peaks and the largest national forest, the Tongass National Forest.
- Furthermore, Alaska has over 130 volcanoes that have been considered active within the last two million years.
- Alaska also has the longest coastline, longer than all the other US states combined. Alaska has over 3 million lakes, 3,197 of which have an official name.
HISTORY OF ALASKA
- In 1741, Alaska was discovered by Danish explorer Vitus Bering, who was doing an expedition for Peter the Great of Russia. He landed near an island that is named Kayak today.
- When the Russians heard of the richness of the new land, they examined the Aleuts and made the first permanent Russian settlement on Kodiak Island in 1784.
- They established the capital of “Russian America” at Sitka in 1805. Russia controlled most of that area, which is now Alaska, until 1867.
- In 1867, Russia decided to end its expansionist policy and sell Alaska to the United States. The Secretary of State, William Henry Seward, negotiated the price for $7,200,000.
- Alaska was not given much attention by Americans in the state until gold was discovered in Juneau in 1880 as well as Klondike, Yukon Territory near Alaska in 1898.
- Many chechakos (newcomers to Alaska or Yukon territory) rushed to Alaska to gain wealth.
- However, many were disappointed and eventually abandoned Alaska within ten years after the gold rush. The others who remained spent years building Alaskan territory.
- Sitka, the capital of Alaska changed to Juneau in 1900.
- In 1959, Alaska became an official US state, making it the 49th state.
- President Dwight David “Ike” Eisenhower signed the declaration on January 3, 1959.
REGIONS OF ALASKA
- Alaska is divided into five major regions.
- The first region is the Far North, also known as the Northwest and Arctic of Alaska.
- Various Alaskan natives, who lived on hunting and fishing, inhabited the region.
- Most of Arctic Alaska lies within the Arctic Circle, and this area offers midnight sun in the summer and polar nights in the winter. Between late August and April, the aurora borealis, or “northern lights,” can be seen.
- The second region is the Interior Region of Alaska, which lies between the Northern Brooks and Southern Alaska ranges. It is also centered around Fairbanks, which is the largest city in the Interior and is bounded by the Alaska Range in the south.
- The Interior Region also offers an extreme range of temperatures. It is considered the warmest region in the state during the summer, with temperatures close to 90˚F. It also recorded the lowest temperature of -80°F in 1971 in Prospect Creek on the Arctic Circle.
- The native Athabaskans, who are hunters, originally inhabited the region.
- The Interior Region offers large parks and is home to wild animals such as bears, moose, caribou, wolves, and eagles.
- The next region is the Southcentral, which is found between the Alaska Range and the south coast at the Gulf of Alaska.
- Southcentral Alaska is the most populated region in Alaska.
- It is also home to mountain ranges (Alaska Range, Talkeetna Mountains, Wrangell Mountains) and several volcanoes (Mount Blackburn, Mount Bona, Mount Churchill). It also has lakes, oceans, and glaciers.
- Unlike the Interior Region, it has a mild climate.
- The fourth region is Southeast Alaska which is found in the southeast mainland of Alaska.
- It is the Alaskan portion of the Inside Passage, also known as the Alaska Panhandle.
- This portion covers channels and fjords, which are formed by the tops of submerged mountains of the Coast Ranges. These make the Alexander Archipelago, which has 1,100 islands.
- Southeast Alaska was the first area acquired by the United States from Russia during the Alaska Purchase in 1867.
- The influences of Native Americans and Russians can be observed in the small coastal towns.
- The last region of Alaska is the Southwest Region which covers a large area with a wide variety of terrain. There are tens of thousands of square miles of remote and untouched terrains inland.
- Remarkable landforms in the United States are found here, such as Kodiak Island, which is a mountainous and forested area and is the second largest island in the US, the Aleutian Range of volcanic mountains, the Aleutian Islands that form the Pacific Ring of Fire with their 57 volcanoes, and Bristol Bay’s freshwater streams, home to the largest red salmon in the world.
THE GOVERNMENT OF ALASKA
- The governor holds the highest state office in Alaska. He is an elected constitutional officer who is also the head of the executive branch and is elected every four years. The first governor of Alaska was William Allen Egan.
- The elected governor is also considered one of the most powerful governors in the US. They appoint the heads of the 14 state departments and other officials.
- Currently, Alaska’s governor is Mike Dunleavy.
- Alaskans also elect their lieutenant governor with the same qualifications and term as the governor and are elected in the midterm elections. Currently, Alaska’s lieutenant governor is Kevin Meyer.
- The lieutenant governor is the second-ranking officer of the executive branch and the first officer who may succeed the governor.
- Alaska’s State Legislature is composed of a Senate with twenty senators that may serve for four years and a House of Representatives with forty representatives that are elected every two years.
- The third branch that completes the government of Alaska is the judicial branch which is a unified, centrally administered, and totally state-funded judicial system.
- Alaska has four levels of court: the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, the Superior Court, and the District Courts.
- The Chief Justice is the head of administration of the Alaskan Court System. They also appoint the administrative director who supervises the courts in the state.
- Daniel Winfree is the current chief justice of Alaska.
- The Supreme Court disseminates the rules adhered to by the administration of all courts as well as the rules of practice and procedure for civil and criminal cases.
- Alaska has two types of local government: the city and the borough. Both are municipal corporations and political subdivisions of the State of Alaska.
- The city government is subject to the limitation of community doctrine.
- The city government is classified into home-rule cities, first-class cities, and second-class cities, and together, they make 144 cities.
- On the other hand, organized boroughs are regional governments with a maximum area and population with common interests.
- Organized boroughs are also known as unified municipalities.
- Organized boroughs are classified into the unified home rule, non-unified home rule, first class, second class, and third class, and together, they make up 19 boroughs in Alaska.
THE CLIMATE OF ALASKA
- Alaska has a varied climate which is heavily influenced by latitude, continentality, and elevation. It also offers extremes of weather with high temperatures of 90˚F and low temperatures of -80°F.
- The Arctic has limited warmth from the sun in winter but is abundant in light in summer.
- The mountain ranges in Alaska influence precipitation. Hence, it rains at low elevations and snows at higher elevations.
- Just like other places in the world, Alaska also experiences climate change, particularly warming.
PEOPLE OF ALASKA
- There are five groups of Alaska natives based on region.
- The first is the Athabascan, whose territory ranges from the Brooks Range in northern Interior Alaska to Cook Inlet in Southcentral Alaska and from Norton Sound in the west to the Canadian border in the east and beyond.
- The Athabascans lived on fishing, so they migrated and traveled in small groups. Eventually, they created communities near some of Alaska’s larger rivers. Some places in Alaska have Athabascan names.
- They built winter villages and summer fish camps. They used canoes made of birch bark and moose hide and used sleds and dogs to transport goods.
- Athabascans are also known for the matrilineal system, where the core unit is often a woman and her brother with both families.
- Like other communities, elders decide for their group.
- The second group is the Iñupiat Culture and the St. Lawrence Island Yupik, who call themselves “Real People”.
- They live in Alaska’s northern and northwestern Arctic regions. They feed on resources by hunting and picking berries in season. They hunt for whales, seals, walruses, and other large animals which depend on certain conditions.
- The Iñupiat Culture and the St. Lawrence Island Yupik share the same subsistence patterns and even home construction methods and tools.
- Next are the Yup’ik and Cup’ik Alaska Native peoples from Southwest Alaska named the Genuine People because of their dialect.
- Just like the Iñupiat Culture, they hunt and gather local food.
- Their traditional home varies from one group to another, but semi-subterranean huts with underground tunnels for entrances were common, especially in northern communities.
- Yup’ik and Cup’ik men usually leave their mothers to live with other men when they are old enough in a gasgiq (men’s house) which also serves as a community center. On the other hand, women live in ena (where cooking and child-rearing are done)
- Storytelling through dance is a way for them to celebrate everyday activities and special events in the community. The elders tell stories of traditional ways of life to the younger people.
- The fourth group is composed of the Tlingit (who live throughout all of Southeast Alaska), Haida, Tsimshian (primarily live in Metlakatla, Alaska’s only reservation, and British Columbia), and Eyak (related to the Athabascans) who live throughout Alaska’s Southeastern panhandle.
- Native people from Southeast Alaska are known for their intricate weaving techniques used for their baskets, for cooking and storage, their ceremonial robes, floor mats, room dividers, clothing, and hats.
- Their social systems are complex as each group is organized into two equal halves, or moieties, which consist of several clans. Traditionally, marriages were arranged between members of opposite moieties.
- Last are the Unangax̂ (Oo-nun-gahx), who live in the Aleutians Island Chain and Pribilof Islands, and Sugpiaq (Soog-pyack), who live on Kodiak Island and Prince William Sound.
- Russian influences such as the Russian Orthodox Church play a significant part in their lives.
- Russian traders used the word Aleut to describe these people.
- Water plays a big role in their way of life because their food comes from the ocean and rivers. Their clothing is made of tightly-sewn skin because it needs to be waterproof.
FOOD IN ALASKA
- Alaska also offers delectable food such as fish, shellfish, wild meats, and wild berries.
- The largest species of salmon, which is the Chinook (king) salmon and can weigh from 25 to 60 pounds, is found in Alaska. Alaska also has sockeye, coho, pink, and chum salmon.
- There is also an abundance of Pacific halibut, rockfish, Pacific cod, black cod, and lingcod.
- Different species of crab can also be found in Alaska, such as king, dungeness, and snow crab.
- Wild-caught shrimp, scallops, and Alaska-grown Pacific oysters can also be found.
- Wild meat such as moose, caribou, and reindeer meat can be eaten in Alaska.
- Wild berries also grow in abundance in this state. Alaskan wildlands produce tons of berries.
- Alaska is also famous for its 35 operating microbreweries in its 20 communities.
- Big Swig Tours offer trips to breweries with fresh tapped beer in different flavors.
Alaska Worksheets
This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Alaska across 33 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets about Alaska, which is the largest state in the United States, more than double the size of Texas.
Download includes the following worksheets:
- Alaska Facts
- Mapping Out Regions
- Alaska Profile
- Truths About Alaska
- Alaska’s Government
- Alaska’s Flag
- Complete the Details
- People of Alaska
- Give Me Five
- Which Region?
- Comparing Alaska
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Alaska best known for?
Alaska is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers, and photographers alike. They boast open lands filled with vibrant wildlife, breathtaking mountain ranges, and sparkling sea fjords – not to mention the unforgettable Northern Lights! Alaska truly has it all, making it an ideal place for those looking to connect with nature.
What animal is Alaska known for?
Unquestionably, the moose is one of Alaska’s most iconic symbols. Awe-inspiring and humbling in its grandeur, this behemoth belongs to the deer family and takes claim as king amongst them all.
Do snakes live in Alaska?
Alaska is known for having few snakes. There are also no lizards or freshwater turtles. The only reptilian creatures that you might see in Alaska are marine turtles.
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Link will appear as Alaska Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, December 6, 2022
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