There is so much to do and see from wildlife and glaciers to mountains and fishing. Plus there are festivals and even metropolitan amenities to enjoy. While travel planning, I’ve come across some weird Alaska facts that you might not have known.
1. Russia is very close to Alaska, so close that you could technically walk between them during the winter. It’s 55 miles from the Russian mainland to the Alaska mainland but there are two small islands (one Russian, one American) in the Bering Straight that are only 2.5 miles apart. In the winter, the water freezes between them so you could technically walk between the two countries. I have no idea if it’s ever been done though, it doesn’t seem likely.
2. Ever notice that you can type Alaska on just one row of a keyboard? It’s the only state name you can do that with.
Alaska, Alaska, Alaska, Alaska, Alaska – just practicing my QWERTY technique. 🙂
3. 17 of the 20 highest peaks in the United States are in Alaska. This includes the highest peak in North America – Mt. McKinley.
4. Alaskans don’t call it Mt. McKinley though. It is Denali or “The Great One” and Alaskans have been fighting for the name change since it was called Mt. McKinley in error over 100 years ago. We plan on spending a couple of days at Denali National Park. If you follow me on Instagram, you might catch a few pictures this weekend.
5. There are over 600 glaciers in Alaska, which is about half of all glaciers found in the entire world.
6. There is no individual or state sales tax in Alaska. Plus, Alaskans receive a dividend every year for merely being a resident. That means they are paid to live in Alaska, usually around $1000 per person per year.
7. There are more islands and volcanoes in Alaska than any other state. Alaska also has more coastline than the rest of the US combined – almost 34,000 miles.
8. You can fit the state of Texas (the 2nd biggest state) inside Alaska, twice. Arizona would fit in Alaska 6 times! If you’re curious as to how your state’s size stacks up to Alaska, check out this cool tool on the Alaska.org.
10. There are some areas in Alaska where possessing, drinking and/or buying alcohol is illegal.
11. In the summer, there are over 20 hours of sunlight making growing giant vegetables quite common. Two years ago the world record for the largest cabbage grown was set with a cabbage weighing over 138 pounds.
12. There are no snakes in Alaska, it’s too cold for them. So I get a vacation from the 52 different snake species we have in Arizona. 🙂
13. Alaska has the highest number of pilots per capita with 1 out of every 78 Alaska residents being pilots. I’d love to do some flightseeing over Alaska but I am 99.98% sure I would NEVER get Peter into a helicopter or bush-plane. Perhaps if zombies were approaching and it was our only way to safety, then I’d still have to knock him out like B.A. on the A-TEAM.
Amy Barseghian says
Wow – you are full of awesome info girl! My mom traveled there last summer so I will send these to her. Alaska – Alaska – Alaska. 🙂
Karen says
Seriously how fun is it to type Alaska over and over…. it’s like look at me wheeeee….
Alaska, Alaska, Alaska 🙂
Heather @ Life of a Traveling Navy Wife says
I followed you over from Twitter! I look forward to reading along and I am going to follow you on Instagram. I have four states left – and Alaska is one of them. I hope to get up there next year (my travel calendar is so booked two years out!)
Have a safe trip and I hope you’ll get your husband on a chopper. I LOVE helicopters!
Karen says
I am pretty sure I need to find zombies first. I did do a helicopter tour of NYC with my dad a few years ago, very cool! We aren’t taking our boys on this trip, so maybe on the next trip I can just get them to do some flightseeing with me. 🙂
Virginia says
You can walk from Little D. Island to Big D. Island. One is American and the other belongs to Russia. Alaskan natives have relatives on the Russian Island and on occasion have walked over there to visit. I don’t know how often it happens, but it was reported at least twice when I lived in Ak.
Karen says
That’s pretty crazy!!
Erica says
I live in Alaska! It’s wonderful.
Erica
Karen says
We hope to get back up there this summer with the kids!!
Carla Knowles says
Lived there for 32 years. My husband retired from the State of Alaska and we decided to move Outside since two of our three children were down south. One still in Alaska. Miss it A LOT. It is majestic. Anchorage and Fairbanks very modern. Areas quite rustic, but, Alaska being settled not so long ago, made it less “antique” than lower 48. Best time to visit is between first part of June through end of July. Might as well experience the novelty of 24hour daylight. It does get “dusky” in the middle of the night. Except the northern areas. That stays very daylight.
Karen says
We were there two summers ago at the of July and thought the weather was amazing! The 24-hour daylight was so crazy to experience. We hope to get back up and take our boys in the next few years, it was an amazing place to visit!
Marina says
I am inupiaq from the Bering strait region, learning my culture. Alaskan natives used to trade with the Russians inuit. Alcohol is illegal because of the affects of colonization and residential schools. I was told my region has gotten one of their dances back about 50 years ago, we couldn’t practice it because it was illegal. When we got to live w our dad we did all sorts of things outside. The best was the Drives along the coast watching the whales migrate