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Alaska is a U.S. state in the northwest extremity of the United States West Coast, just across the Bering Strait from Asia. The Canadian province of British Columbia and territory of Yukon border the state to the east and southeast. Its most extreme western part is Attu Island, and it has a maritime border with Russia (Chukotka Autonomous Okrug) to the west across the Bering Strait. To the north are the Chukchi and Beaufort seas—southern parts of the Arctic Ocean. The Pacific Ocean lies to the south and southwest. It is the largest U.S. state by area and the seventh largest subnational division in the world. In addition, it is the 3rd least populous and the most sparsely populated of the 50 United States; nevertheless, it is by far the most populous territory located mostly north of the 60th parallel in North America: its population—estimated at 738,432 by the United States Census Bureau in 2015— is more than quadruple the combined populations of Northern Canada and Greenland. Approximately half of Alaska’s residents live within the Anchorage metropolitan area. Alaska’s economy is dominated by the fishing, natural gas, and oil industries, resources which it has in abundance. United States armed forces bases and tourism are also a significant part of the economy.

On March 30, 1867, the United States purchased Alaska from the Russian Empire for 7.2 million U.S. dollars, or approximately two cents per acre ($4.74/km2). The area went through several administrative changes before becoming organized as a territory on May 11, 1912. It was admitted as the 49th state of the U.S. on January 3, 1959.

Capital: Anchorage

Blog Posts:

Alaska: Fairbanks – Aurora Express Bed & Breakfast

Alaska: Fairbanks – Aurora Express Bed & Breakfast

For our second night in Fairbanks, we had arranged for us to stay at the Aurora Express Bed & …
Alaska: Exploring the frontier city of Fairbanks

Alaska: Exploring the frontier city of Fairbanks

A two-day itinerary in the central Alaskan city of Fairbanks As we left the high peaks of the …
Alaska: Denali National Park

Alaska: Denali National Park

After a few days in Anchorage & Seward we headed north into the Alaskan interior, through the …
Alaska: Seward – Dog sledding during the summer season

Alaska: Seward – Dog sledding during the summer season

After spending the previous day at sea we decided to focus our last few days in Steward on terra …
Alaska: Kenai Peninsula – Exit Glacier

Alaska: Kenai Peninsula – Exit Glacier

Getting close-up and personal with a enormous river of ice. Whilst we still can! …
Alaska: Exploring the Seward Highway

Alaska: Exploring the Seward Highway

Exploring Alaska\’s Kenai Peninsula: incredible wildlife and the disappearing glaciers …
Alaska: A day cruise to see Northwestern Fjord – whales, sea otters and retreating glaciers

Alaska: A day cruise to see Northwestern Fjord – whales, sea otters and retreating glaciers

The plan was to take a 9 ½ boat trip from Seward up the Northwestern Fjord, some 70 odd miles down …
Alaska: Anchorage – Alaska Native Heritage Center

Alaska: Anchorage – Alaska Native Heritage Center

On our arrival in Anchorage our hopes were raised by some warm summer sun, but when we awoke on …
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