How well do you know Alaska?
Alaska is America's largest and wildest state. Six questions, from easy to hard, about its history, people and remarkable way of life.
Did you know?
- Alaska has the largest population of bald eagles in the United States, with an estimated 30,000 birds. Many gather each autumn near Haines to feed on late salmon runs.
- The Trans-Alaska Pipeline zigzags across the landscape so it can flex during earthquakes and temperature changes. Parts of it are raised above the ground to protect the permafrost.
- Giant cabbages weighing more than 100 pounds have been grown in Alaska, thanks to up to 20 hours of summer daylight in some areas. They are a highlight of the Alaska State Fair each year.
The Last Frontier
Alaska is more than twice the size of Texas but has fewer than a million residents. Mountains, glaciers, tundra and forests cover most of the state, and many communities can be reached only by plane or boat. Alaska Native peoples, including Iñupiat, Yupʼik, Athabascan and Tlingit communities, have lived there for thousands of years.
Alaska Native cultures
Alaska is home to many distinct Native cultures with their own languages and traditions. Hunting, fishing and gathering remain important in many communities. Cultural centers and festivals across the state share traditional dance, art and knowledge with visitors and younger generations.
Gold rush and oil
The Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1890s brought thousands of prospectors through Alaska. In the 20th century, oil discovered at Prudhoe Bay transformed the economy, and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, completed in 1977, carries oil about 800 miles to the port of Valdez.
Northern lights
Alaska is one of the best places in the world to see the aurora borealis. Fairbanks, located under the 'auroral oval', offers frequent displays from late August to April, when nights are long and dark.
Wildlife everywhere
Alaska has large populations of brown bears, moose, caribou and bald eagles, as well as whales and sea otters along its coasts. In places like Katmai National Park, visitors can watch bears catching salmon at waterfalls.
Life in the far north
Winters are long and cold in much of Alaska, but summers bring nearly endless daylight. People take advantage of midnight sun to fish, garden and hike late into the night, and giant vegetables grown in the long days often win prizes at the Alaska State Fair.
Glaciers and fjords
Alaska has tens of thousands of glaciers, many flowing into the sea in dramatic fjords. In Glacier Bay and Kenai Fjords national parks, visitors watch tidewater glaciers 'calve', dropping huge blocks of ice into the water with a thunderous crash. Many of Alaska's glaciers are retreating, and scientists study them closely.