13 Things You Didn’t Know About Alaska That Will Surprise You
The Last Frontier is unlike any other state in the country.
Alaska was a Russian Colony until 1867 and was officially made a state in America in 1959. With less than one percent of its land populated by people, it’s known as “The Last Frontier” for good reason. It is arguably one of the most interesting states, and is home to over 30,000 bald eagles. If you plan to visit Alaska, it’s hard to figure out a route to even begin and not become overwhelmed by how vast it is. A great way to experience glaciers, small towns, whale watching and dog sledding is through a cruise line such as Holland America. Here are thirteen things you didn’t know about Alaska that will surprise you.
This plant that only lives in pure air thrives in Alaska.
Lichens are a common plant found in Alaska’s vegetation, but are hard to come by anywhere else in America. It consists of a fungus and an alga that grows together as one and are connected to the environment – growing on soil, rock, bark, and even buildings. If the air is not pure where it grows, it will turn black and die.
The best way to see Glacier National Park is by cruise ship.
You’ll find some of the biggest tidewater glaciers in Glacier Bay National Park. The best way to get up close to the West Arm and Margerie Glacier is by cruise ship. On Holland America, National Park rangers come onboard for the day to give presentations and commentary as the ship sails through the park. The ship will also go through College Fjord glaciers.
You can’t drive to Alaska from the United States.
Alaska and Hawaii are the only states that you cannot drive to from the US. If you’re taking a vehicle, you have to go through Canada. Don’t have a passport? You can fly directly into Alaska, or if you’re taking a cruise many leave from Seattle.
Alaska is more than 2.5 times the size of Texas.
If you think everything is bigger in Texas, think again. The geographical size of Alaska, 586,412 square miles, is more than 2.5 times the size of Texas.
Homesteading is a way of life in Alaska.
For some residents in Alaska, they don’t want to be bothered by society. Homesteading is a lifestyle where you are completely self-reliant on your own being. This means that homesteaders can care for themselves from agriculture, clothing, work and textiles without leaving their property for long periods of time. There are approximately 3,277 homesteaders in Alaska.
You can take a 10-hour train to Denali.
For most cruise lines, the experience isn’t just at sea. After the sea portion of the trip, you can take a 10-hour train ride to Denali to spend a few nights exploring the National Park. The McKinley Explorer train to Denali offers panoramic views with glass ceilings and travels through parts of Alaska that can only be accessed by the train. You also can enjoy a sit-down lunch on the lower level.
Klondike Gold Rush is a living Wild West.
A popular stop on Holland America’s cruise line, the town Skagway is home to the Klondike Gold Rush which is a National Historical Park. It captured a time in Alaska when gold mining ruled the Yukon Territory. Six blocks of downtown Skagway is the National Historic District which preserves the buildings and culture dating all the way back to the 1890s. One building is the Mascot Saloon, which opened during the gold rush and closed in 1916 due to prohibition.
Fresh produce can be hard to come by.
Most of the produce that you’ll find in the supermarket is imported. Make sure to know what day the shipments come in, otherwise you could face empty shelves. A cucumber can cost as much as $6!
The only way to get to Juneau is by airplane or ship.
With a population of 32,000, the state capital of Alaska has no road access. That’s right – the only way to get to Juneau is by airplane or boat. Your best bet to explore this town is by cruise such as Holland America. Not only can you explore, but through the cruise line you can do shore excursions such as whale watching, dog sledding and more.
Alaska has its own time zone.
Alaska actually has two different time zones: Alaska Time and Hawaii-Aleutian Time. Alaska time, which covers most of the state, is four hours behind from the East Coast, and one hour behind from the West Coast.
Denali National Park has the tallest peak in North America.
Denali National Park is one of the most coveted parks to visit in the United States. On hikes or a bus tour, if you’re lucky you’ll see bears, moose and bald eagles. It’s home to the tallest peak in North America, standing at 20,310 feet. If you’re not equipped to try to hike this feat, you can take a surreal, less-strenuous helicopter ride.
There are over 30,000 bald eagles in Alaska.
On a 20-minute drive in Juneau, Alaska, I spotted more than a dozen bald eagles. Keep your eyes peeled because there are 30,000 of the country’s National Animal.
People live on less than 1% of the land.
Alaska is referred to as “The Last Frontier” for good reason. Out of 365 million acres, only approximately 160,000 of those acres are inhabited by American Civilization. That’s less than 1% of the entire state!
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