Alaska: "The Great Land"

A vast and diverse geography with a land area of 571,951 square miles, the 49th state to enter the union in 1959 is the largest of all U.S. states. Alaska: “The Great Land” states – twice the size of Texas, and roughly equal to one fifth of the continental United States.

Bounded in the southwest by the Pacific Ocean, in the west by the Bering Sea, and in the north by the Arctic Ocean, Alaska is the only U.S. state with two international borders (with Russia and Canada).

Its many thousand miles of coastline, numerous active volcanoes, 39 majestic mountain ranges containing 17 of the 20 highest peaks in the United States, and diverse ecosystems ranging from temperate rainforest to desert-like Arctic tundra offer a home to some of North America’s most remarkable – and threatened – wildlife, provide a plethora of natural resources, and also pose significant geophysical and climatic hazards. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamies, coastal erosion, and climatic hazards such as droughts, floods, wildfires, and severe winter storms are all part of life in this northern state.

Back To Alaska: Places To Visit