| Country | USA |
| Capital city | Juneau |
| Area | 1,717,856 km² |
| Population | 736,081 people (2020) 0.428 people/km² |
| Governor | Bill Walker |
| Time zone | UTC-9 to -8 |
| ZIP code | AK |
| ISO 3166-2 | US-AK |
| Official site | state.ak.us |
| Alaska | |
The ratio of the area of the state of Alaska to the main territory of the United States
Alaska is the 49th state of the United States, admitted on January 3, 1959 [ 1]. Area 1,717,856 km² (17.47% of the US territory, 1st largest). Population on January 1, 2017, 739,795 people (0.23% of the US population, 47th place). Alaska and Hawaii are the only two US states that are separated from the main land of the country. If the map of Alaska were superimposed on a map of the continental 48 states, it would cover the space from Minnesota to Texas and from Georgia to California.
The name “Alaska” (in English: Alaska) most likely derives from the Aleut word for “big country” or “land”. The locals call it “Alieska”, which means “the big land”.
Geography
Geographical location, boundaries
The state occupies the extreme northwestern part of North America, with the Bering Strait separating it from Asia in the west. To the east it borders Canada, to the south it is washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean, and to the west by the waters of the Bering Sea (part of the Pacific Ocean). In the north, it borders the Arctic Ocean, respectively the Chukchi Sea in the northwest and the Beaufort Sea in the north.
Shores
Except for the northern coast, Alaska’s coastline is highly indented. In the southern part, far inland is the Gulf of Alaska, with the large secondary Gulfs of Cook and Prince William. In the eastern part of the Gulf of Alaska is the large Alexander Archipelago with the islands of Chichagov, Baranov, Prince of Wales and others. In the northern part of the Gulf of Alaska, far to the south lies the Kenai Peninsula, and southwest of it is the large island of Kodiak. The western part of the Gulf of Alaska is closed by the long and narrow Alaska Peninsula, separated from Kodiak Island by the Shelikhov Strait. The western extension of the Alaska Peninsula are the Aleutian Islands, stretching for nearly 1,700 km like a huge convex arc to the south and encumbering the Bering Sea from the south.
The western coast of the state is also highly dissected – Bristol, Kuskokwim, Norton and Kotzebue bays go far inland here, and between the last two is the large Seward Peninsula, on which the westernmost continental point of North America is located – Cape Prince of Wales.
The northern coast is slightly indented, flat and heavily marshy. Here the more characteristic bays are Smith, Harrison and Camden.
Relief
The terrain of Alaska is varied, but the mountain predominates. In the north, along the coasts of the Chukchi Sea and the Beaufort Sea, a vast low and heavily swampy plain stretches for nearly 800 km and up to 180 km wide. South of it, from the Lisburn Peninsula in the west to the border with Canada in the east, the Brooks Ridge (Mickelson Peak 2699 m) rises as a slightly convex arc to the south. The central part of the state is occupied by the Yukon River Valley. From the south, the river valley is bounded by low mountains Aklun (1312 m), Kilbuk, Kuskokwim (1291 m) and Ogilvy (1788 m). The southern part of the state of Alaska is occupied by powerful mountain systems, the highest in North America. From the Alaska Peninsulabegins the nearly 1,000 km long Alaska Ridge, where the highest point of North America rises – Mount McKinley 20,320 f, 6,194 m. South of the great arc of the Alaska Range are the mountains Wrangel (Peak Blackburn 4996 m), St. Elijah (Peak St. Elijah 5489 m) and Chugach (Peak Markus Baker 4016 m), and to the southeast, along the border with Canada – the Boundary Ridge (Boundary, Mount Nesselrod 2469 m). The entire Alaska Peninsula is occupied by the Aleutian Ridge with the maximum height of the Pavlov volcano 2714 m.
Leads
The state of Alaska is extremely rich in water resources. The main water artery is the Yukon River, crossing the entire state from east to west with its middle and lower reaches and flowing into the Bering Sea. Its main tributaries are: left – Tanana, Inoko, etc.; right – Porcupine, Chandalar, Koyukuk, etc. To the north, the Yago, Canning, Sagavanirtok, Itkilik, Colville, Ikpikpuk, Mead, etc. rivers flow to the Beaufort Sea, and to the Chukchi Sea – Utukok, Kukpouruk, Kukpuk, Noatak, Kobuk, etc. In addition to the Yukon River, the Koiuk, Kuskokwim, Nushagak and other rivers belong to the Bering Sea catchment basin. To the south, the Susitna, Koper,Sitkin et al. Several large lakes Iliamna, Bocharov and others are located in the southwestern part of the state.
History
Alaska was probably first settled by peoples who came over the Bering Land Bridge, including Inuit and numerous Native American groups. Most of the pre-Columbian population of the Americas probably came this way, but continued to move south.
The first historical evidence shows that the first Europeans to reach Alaska came from Russia. Urged by Secretary of State William Seward, the US Senate purchased Alaska for $7.2 million ($1.67 billion at today’s prices) on March 30, 1867, and the US flag was raised on October 18 of that year. Today, October 18 is celebrated in the state as Alaska Day. Together with the new owner, Alaska adopted a new calendar – the Gregorian, and thus October 6, 1867 (Friday) was followed by October 18, 1867 (Friday).
The new acquisition was not well received in the old part of the USA, where they called Alaska “Seward’s madness” and ” Seward’s icebox “. Alaska commemorates the purchase each year on Seward Day, which falls on the last Monday in March. From 1867 to 1884, Alaska was renamed the Department of Alaska, and in the period 1884 – 1912 it was named the District of Alaska. The first American administrator of Alaska was Vladimir Krzyzhanowski. On January 8, 1900, US President William McKinley declared martial law in the state.
On July 7, 1958, President Dwight Eisenhower signed an executive order making US law effective for Alaska. This set the stage for Alaska’s admission as the 49th US state on January 3, 1959.
Alaska experienced one of the most powerful earthquakes in North American history, which on March 27, 1964, with a magnitude of 9.2, shook the southern part of the state.
In 1976, the people of Alaska amended the state constitution creating the Alaska Permanent Fund. He invested a portion of the proceeds from the minerals, as well as the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, “to benefit all Alaskan generations.” In March 2005, the fund’s available assets were over $30 billion.
Several vessels are named Alaska in honor of the state.
During the Second World War, 3 of the outer Aleutian islands – Atu, Agatu and Kiska – were occupied by Japanese soldiers. It is the only US territory that was occupied during the war.
Administrative division
According to Countryaah, Alaska is divided into 19 administrative districts (boroughs), equivalent to the county unit in other states. In contrast, Alaska’s administrative districts do not cover the entire state. The remaining significant Unorganized area for statistical purposes is divided into 10 statistical areas (census areas). Some administrative districts are consolidated city-counties, equivalent to the city-county administrative unit in other states.
Administrative regions
East Aleutian, Anchorage, Bristol Bay, Denali, Fairbanks North Star, Haines, Juneau, Kenai Peninsula, Sitka, Ketchikan Way, Kodiak Island, Lake and Peninsula, Matanuska-Susitna, North Slope, Northwest Arctic Administrative Region, Skagway, Rango, Yakutat, Petersburg, Unorganized Administrative Area (with all 10 statistical areas).
Statistical zones
Western Aleutian, Bethel, Dillingham, Hoona – Angoon, Nome, Prince of Wales – Hyder, Southeast Fairbanks, Valdez – Cordova, Wade Hampton, Yukon – Koyukuk.
Settlements
Cities
- Anchorage
- Juno
- Fairbanks
- Noum
Other places
- Circle
Other data
Alaska has been called the Inner Continent, the Last Frontier, and the Land of the Midnight Sun.
- Postal code: AK
- Capital: Juneau
Juneau
| Country | USA |
| State | Alaska |
| Area | 8427.63 km² |
| Highness height | 17 m |
| Population | 32,660 people |
| ZIP code | 99801-99803, 99811-99812, 99824, 99821 |
| Telephone code | 907 |
| Official site | juneau.org |
| Juno | |
Panoramic view from Juneau
Juneau (in English from French: Juneau) is a city in the USA, the capital of the state of Alaska. It is located in the southeastern part of Alaska, 60 km from the western border of Canada and has a population of 31,118 inhabitants (2004). The city is the center of fish production in Southeast Alaska. It was founded in 1881, and was originally a mining camp and was named after the prospector Joseph Juneau.
Twin Cities
- Vladivostok, Russia
