Personal blog about states
The state is bordered by Yukon and British Columbia, Canada to the east, the Gulf of Alaska and the Pacific Ocean to the south, Russia (Chukotka Autonomous Okrug), Bering Sea , the Bering Strait, and Chukchi Sea to the west, and the Beaufort Sea and the Arctic Ocean to the north.
three seas
Alaska is one of two US states not bordered by another state, Hawaii is the other. Alaska is bordered by Canada (by the Canadian provinces of Yukon Territory and British Columbia ) to the east, and it shares a maritime border with Russia to the west. The state’s nickname is ” The Last Frontier .”
While Anchorage is well known for its mountains and world-class access to the wilds of Chugach State Park, the city is also dotted with lakes and lined with ocean — which means it has the perfect beaches for afternoon picnics, a day on the water, or a morning stroll along the tideline.
Russia controlled most of the area that is now Alaska from the late 1700s until 1867, when it was purchased by U.S. Secretary of State William Seward for $7.2 million, or about two cents an acre. During World War II, the Japanese occupied two Alaskan islands, Attu and Kiska, for 15 months.
3,239 feet
The Bering sea , near the chain of the Aleutian Islands, is one of the most intense patches of ocean on Earth. Strong winds, freezing temperatures, and icy water are normal conditions. The combination makes for some of the most ferocious waves on the planet, where the water can rise and fall 30 feet on a normal day.
Three species of sharks are found in Alaska waters, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Pacific sleeper sharks, which range as far north as the Chukchi Sea; salmon sharks, found in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea; and North Pacific spiny dogfish , also found in the Gulf of Alaska and
But technically, the Gulf of Alaska is considered part of the Pacific Ocean and is not the place where 2 oceans meet. As to swimming there, not recommended. The waters are very cold.
There are two main reasons. First, Canada wasn’t its own country in 1867. Second, Great Britain controlled the Canadian colonies. Russia did not want to sell Alaska to its rival.
Russia offered to sell Alaska to the United States in 1859, believing the United States would off-set the designs of Russia’s greatest rival in the Pacific, Great Britain. This purchase ended Russia’s presence in North America and ensured U.S. access to the Pacific northern rim.
1) We are the biggest state in the United States by a long shot. 2) We have 17 out of the 20 highest peaks in the United States . 3) We have over 3,000 rivers and 3 million lakes. We also have the biggest lake in the U.S., Lake Iliamna.
Top 100 Jobs Relatively More Common in Alaska Than Elsewhere
Rank | Job | Local Popularity Index |
---|---|---|
1 | Zoologists and wildlife biologists | 45.6 |
2 | Geological and petroleum technicians | 30.5 |
3 | Airline pilots , copilots, and flight engineers | 29.3 |
4 | Material moving workers | 20.2 |
#4 Anchorage , Alaska’s largest city , is also its least safe. The city’s violent crime rate of 13.10 per 1,000 is over 3 times higher than the national rate, and its property crime rate of 49.28 per 1,000 is over twice as high as national levels.
Swimming in Alaska is certainly not for the faint of heart. On a hot summer day (yes, Alaska does get hot days), venture down to Wasilla Lake for a picnic with the family, paddle a kayak around or bring your swimsuit and jump right in for a swim !