Figure 1.--Nothing other than the climate dominate Alsaka more than the many mountin ranges. The ruffed terraine and climate make Alaska a safe place for a wide range of wildlife. Here children and a well-dressed man play wuth a bear cub in the 1910s. Note the girls' hair bows and long stockings, standard wear throughout America.

Alaska is the largest state, dwarfing Texas. Only six countries have a larger land area. It forms a giant peninsula, surrounded by oceans on three sides. There is the Arctic Ocean to the North, the Bering Sea to the West, and the Pacific Ocean to the South. The eastern land border is with Canada--Yukon and British Colombia. If its many islands are considered, Alaska has nearly 34,000 miles of tidal shoreline, mote than all the rest of the United States. Alaska has the most ruggeed geography of any state, in fact of almost all countries. And that is intensified by its Aratic climate. Which is why it was at first described as Seard's Folly or Icebox. There are an amazing 39 mountain ranges accounting for 17 of the 20 highest peaks in the United States. There are an estinated 3 million lakes of various sizes, many quite small. There are more than 3,000 rivers. The most important river is the 2,300 mile Yukon which rises in British Columbia, Canada and flows nortwest before cutting across cenbtral Alaska and Aladaka, empteing into the Bering Sea forming the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Much of central Alaska is part of the Yukon River watershead. There are five regions. South Central Alaska is the southern coastal region and contains most of the state's population. Anchorage and many growing towns, such as Palmer, and Wasilla. The economynis based on petroleum industrial plants, transportation, tourism, and two military bases. Alaskan Panhandle is also called Southeast Alaska, is home to many of Alaska's larger towns including the state capital Juneau, tidewater glaciers and forests. Tourism, fishing, forestry and state government are themajor econoimic activities. Southwest Alaska is coastal facing both the Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea. It is parsely populated even by Alaskan standars. It is not unconnected to the state's road highway system, but is a large part of the important fishing industry. Alaskan Interior is whwere Fairbanks is located. It is the catchmnt area of the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers. It also includes Arctic tundra lands and shorelines. Alaskan Bush is the remote largely unpopulated area of the state. There are 380 native villages and small towns.

Created: 1:42 PM 4/3/2022
Last updated: 1:42 PM 4/3/2022