1. There are 3,000 rivers; 3 million lakes; 5,000 glaciers; 70 active volcanoes (more than any other state); and 17 of the 20 highest mountains in North America are in Alaska.
2. There are 3 major native cultures: Eskimo, Indian and Aleut, with numerous sub-cultures.
3. Wildlife abounds with deer, elk, moose, caribou, musk ox, grizzly bear (black, brown and polar), wolf, mountain goat, dall sheep, fox, mink, martins, walrus, sea lions, 2 species of dolphins, 2 species of porpoises, 15 species of baleen and toothed whales, seals, eagles, falcons, geese, ducks, swans , beaver, otters and innumerable species of fish, just to name a few.
4. Total state population is around 600,000 people with the 3 largest cities being Anchorage with 300,000 people, Fairbanks with 75,000 people and Juneau (the capital) with 30,000 people. It is the least populated state compared to it's size, at 1.0 person per square mile.
5. The majority of communities are small with no roads leading to them. Transportation in and out of them is by airplane, boat, train, snow machine or ATV. Many communities do not, yet, have electricity, indoor plumbing or running water. Juneau the capital is not accessible by road.
6. Alaska has a unique climate. Some communities can get up to 300 inches of rain and 30 feet of snow a year. In Barrow, there are 3 months of 24 hours a day sunlight and 3 months of 24 hours a day darkness. Temperatures can range from -100 F to 100 F.
7. It is the Largest State of America. (sorry Texas and California), Double the size of the state of Texas.
8. It is referred to as "The Land of the Midnight Sun", and "The Last Frontier" for obvious reasons.
9. Tourism, Fishing, and Oil are the largest industry in Alaska. (an estimate of 3 million tourist pass thru every year)
10. Alaska has an abundance of seafood and seafood is one of the few food items that is often cheaper within the state than outside it.
11. An example of a traditional native food is Akutaq, the Eskimo ice cream, which can consist of reindeer fat, seal oil, dried fish meat and local berries.
12. Most food in Alaska is transported into the state from "outside". In rural areas, subsistence hunting and gathering is an essential activity because imported food is prohibitively expensive. The cost of importing food to villages begins at 7¢ per pound and rises rapidly to 50¢ per pound. The cost of delivering a seven-pound gallon of milk is about $3.50 in many villages. Fuel for snow machines and boats that consume a couple of gallons per hour can exceed $8.00 per gallon.
13. The climate of Anchorage and south central Alaska is mild by Alaskan standards due to the region's proximity to the seacoast. While the area gets less rain than southeast Alaska, it gets more snow, and days tend to be clearer. On average, Anchorage receives 16 inches of precipitation a year, with around 75 inches of snow.
14. Alaska has no state sales tax and no states income tax.
15. Like in Australia, "The Bush" is a term for the portion of Alaska that are not connected by North America's interconnected system of roadways. The Bush is where the majority of Alaska's native populations live, living off the land like their ancestors
16. Snow will often start in October & stay on the ground through April. Above the Arctic Circle, it is even longer.
17. Daylight hours are very short in the winter, 5 hours or less, with mid December being the least amount of daylight.
18. Your vehicle must be equipped for Alaska winter.
19. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a very serious problem in Alaska. Common among the remote villages.
