Alaska (State Profile)

Alaska is a state in the far northwestern corner of North America and the largest state of the United States by area, covering about 665,000 square miles. Separated from the contiguous states by Canada, it is bordered by the Yukon and British Columbia to the east and faces Russia across the Bering Strait. Admitted to the Union on January 3, 1959, as the 49th state, Alaska has Juneau as its capital and Anchorage as its largest city, and it has the lowest population density of any U.S. state [1][2].

Geography and Landscape

Alaska is more than twice the size of Texas, and its tidal shoreline of roughly 34,000 miles is longer than that of all other U.S. states combined. Nearly a third of the state lies north of the Arctic Circle, and about four-fifths of it is underlain by permafrost [1][2]. The state is divided into several physiographic regions, including the Alaska Range, the Brooks Range, the Aleutian chain, the North Slope, the Interior and the Southeast Panhandle, each with its own landforms and weather [2].

Denali, at 20,310 feet, is the highest peak in North America. Glaciers cover roughly 29,000 square miles of the state, and more than 400,000 natural lakes of at least one hectare are scattered across it. The Yukon is the largest river system, while Iliamna Lake is one of the largest lakes. Alaska also lies along the circum-Pacific seismic belt and contains more than 130 active volcanoes, so earthquakes and eruptions are part of ordinary life [1][2].

The Aleutian Islands arc roughly 1,100 miles into the Pacific. Because the chain crosses the 180th meridian, a small part of Alaska technically lies in the Eastern Hemisphere. In the Bering Strait, Big Diomede and Little Diomede lie only about three miles apart, with the international boundary between them [1][2].

Climate

Alaska has several distinct climate zones. The southern coast and Panhandle are temperate and very wet, with some stations receiving 60 to 160 inches of precipitation a year. The Interior is continental, with warm summers and extremely cold winters. Anchorage is milder than the Interior, with roughly 15 to 20 inches of annual precipitation, while the North Slope has a polar climate and 24 hours of sunlight in midsummer [2].

Temperature extremes are notable. The state record high of 100 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded at Fort Yukon on June 27, 1915, and the record low of minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded at Prospect Creek on January 23, 1971 [1]. Since about 1979 the climate has warmed, and thawing permafrost is a growing concern for buildings, roads and coastal villages [2].

History

People have lived in Alaska for thousands of years. Archaeologists connect the first settlers with the Bering land bridge that once joined Asia and North America. The Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Iñupiat, Yup’ik, Aleut (Unangax̂) and Athabaskan peoples developed distinct cultures and languages long before outsiders arrived [1][3].

Russian expeditions led by Vitus Bering in 1728 and 1741 opened the way for fur traders. The first permanent European settlement was founded in 1784, the Russian Orthodox church was established at Kodiak in 1795, and Sitka, then called New Archangel, became the capital of Russian America in 1804 [1][3].

Secretary of State William H. Seward negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, finalized on March 30, 1867. The formal transfer took place at Sitka on October 18, 1867, a date now observed as Alaska Day [1][2]. Gold strikes at Juneau in 1880, the Klondike rush of 1897 to 1900, Nome in 1898 and Fairbanks in 1903 brought waves of migrants [3].

During World War II, Japan invaded the Aleutian Islands in 1942, and Alaska became a major military outpost. Congress approved statehood on July 7, 1958, and Alaska joined the Union on January 3, 1959 [1][3]. The Good Friday earthquake of 1964, a magnitude 9.2 event, killed more than 130 people. The discovery of oil at Prudhoe Bay and the completion of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in 1977 transformed the state economy [1][2].

People and Languages

The 2020 census counted 733,391 residents, an increase of 3.3 percent over 2010, with roughly half living in the Anchorage area and the Kenai Peninsula. About 15 percent of residents identified as Alaska Native alone in 2020, and the state has one of the highest proportions of Native people in the country [1][2]. English is the main language at home, but Alaska is home to more than 20 Alaska Native languages, including Yup’ik, Iñupiaq, Tlingit and Alutiiq [1].

Government

Alaska’s constitution was drafted by a constitutional convention before statehood and took effect with admission to the Union. The state is governed by an elected governor, a lieutenant governor, and a bicameral legislature of a House of Representatives and a Senate. The judiciary is headed by the Alaska Supreme Court, followed by the Court of Appeals, superior courts and district courts [4]. Instead of counties, Alaska has organized boroughs and a large Unorganized Borough, along with census areas used for statistics [1][4].

Economy

Petroleum has long been the largest source of state revenue. Oil and gas extraction, centered on Prudhoe Bay and delivered by the Trans-Alaska Pipeline to Valdez, accounts for the large majority of state government revenue [1][2]. Seafood is the main non-oil export, with salmon, cod, pollock, halibut and crab among the major catches. Mining, tourism and federal and military spending also play major roles [2].

In 1976 voters created the Alaska Permanent Fund, which invests a share of mineral revenues. It began with $734,000 and has grown to roughly $50 billion. Since 1982 it has paid an annual dividend to eligible residents [1][2]. Agriculture is small, centered on the Matanuska Valley and Delta Junction, and most food is imported [2].

State Symbols

Alaska’s official symbols include the forget-me-not (flower), Sitka spruce (tree), willow ptarmigan (bird), king salmon (fish), moose (land mammal), bowhead whale (marine mammal), jade (gem), gold (mineral) and dog mushing (sport). The state song is “Alaska’s Flag,” and the motto is “North to the Future” [5].

Parks and Outdoor Life

Most of Alaska is public land, and the National Park Service manages units such as Denali, Wrangell-St. Elias, Glacier Bay, Katmai and Kenai Fjords. Tourism is built on cruises through the Inside Passage, wildlife viewing, fishing, hiking and winter sports, and the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, run each March from Anchorage toward Nome, is the best-known annual event [1][6].

FAQs

What is the capital of Alaska? Juneau, in the Southeast Panhandle, is the capital. It is reachable only by air or water, because no road connects it to the rest of the state.

When did Alaska become a state? Alaska joined the Union on January 3, 1959, as the 49th state, after Congress approved statehood in 1958.

How big is Alaska? Alaska covers roughly 665,000 square miles in total, making it the largest U.S. state by area, about one-fifth the size of the entire contiguous United States.

What is the highest mountain in Alaska? Denali, at 20,310 feet, is the highest peak in North America.

How did the United States acquire Alaska? The United States bought it from Russia for $7.2 million in 1867, in a deal negotiated by Secretary of State William H. Seward.

Why is Alaska called the Last Frontier? The nickname reflects its vast, sparsely settled wilderness and its relatively recent statehood. Alaska has the lowest population density of any U.S. state.

Sources

1. Wikipedia: Alaska
2. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Alaska
3. Encyclopaedia Britannica: History of Alaska
4. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Alaska: Government and society
5. Wikipedia: List of Alaska state symbols
6. National Park Service: Alaska

Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 11, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue