Alaska is the largest US state located at the northwestern end of North America. The following are 10 quick facts about Alaska. Let’s read.
10 quick facts about Alaska
1. Alaska is huge. It has an area of approximately 665,400 square miles (1.723 million sq km). It is the largest state in the US, roughly 2.5 times larger than Texas, the second largest state.
2. Alaska is even larger than every European nation (except Russia).
3. Alaska has black bears, brown bears, and polar bears. It is truly a “bear land”. The grizzly bear (a subspecies of brown bear) population in Alaska is comparable to that of all of Canada.
4. There are 8 National Parks in Alaska, the second highest number after California. Wrangell–St. Elias National Park, the largest National Park in the United States is in Alaska.
(Also read: Which state has the most National Parks in the US?)
5. Alaska became a state on 3 January 1959.
6. The top 10 highest mountains in the United States are all located in Alaska. Denali/Mount McKinley is the highest peak in the US as well as North America. It is 20,310 ft (6,190 meters) high and is located in Denali National Park of Alaska.
7. Alaska has the longest coastline length among all US states.
8. Alaska has the lowest population density among all US states.
9. Alaska-Canada border is 1,538 miles (2,475 km) long. Alaska has the longest international border among all US states.
10. Bering Glacier, the largest glacier in North America is in Alaska.
Alaska geography facts
| Area | approximately 665,400 square miles (1.723 million sq km) |
| Capital city | Juneau |
| Largest city | Anchorage |
| Nickname | The Last Frontier |
| Famous wildlife | Brown bear, black bear, moose, caribou, walrus, wolf, dall sheep, polar bear, etc. |
| Mountain ranges | Alaska Range, Brooks Range, Chugach Mountains, Aleutian Range, Kenai Mountains, Saint Elias Mountains, etc. |
| Highest mountain | Denali/Mount McKinley (20,310 ft/6,190 m) |
| Longest river | Yukon River |
| Largest lake | Iliamna Lake |
Alaska state symbols
| Tree | Sitka spruce |
| Flower | Forget-me-not |
| Bird | Willow ptarmigan |
| Land mammal | Moose |
| Marine mammal | Bowhead whale |
| Fish | King salmon |
| Insect | Four-spot skimmer dragonfly |
| Fossil | Woolly mammoth |
| Mineral | Gold |
| Gem | Jade |