Alaska

Alaska Facts for Visitors

Area: 591,004 square miles
Population: 634,892 (2001)
State Capital: Juneau
People: American
Official Language: English
Languages Spoken: English
Government: Democratic
Head of State: Governor Frank Murkowski
Major Industries: Natural resources including oil(petrol), natural gas, coal, uranium, and platinum. Forestry, agriculture and fishing also play an important role.
Time Zone: Alaska
Admission to union: The 49th State
Date entered the union: January 3, 1959
Origin of state name: Named from the Aleut word Al-ay-ek-sha meaning mainland.
Nicknames: The Great Land and The Last Frontier
State Motto: "North To The Future"
State Song: Alaska's Flag

State Bird		Willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus)
State Land Mammal		Moose (Alces alces)
State Marine Mammal		Bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus)
State Fish		King salmon (Onchorhynchus tshawytscha)
State Insect		Four spot skimmer dragonfly (Libellula quadrimaculata)
State Fossil		Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius)
State Flower		Forget-me-not (genus Myosotis)
State Tree		Sitka spruce (Picea sitchenensis)
State Mineral		Gold
State Gem		Jade
State Soil		Estelle (unofficial)
State Sport		Dog mushing

Points of Interest:
· Alaska is the largest state in the United States. It is about the size of California, Montana and Texas combined together.
· A fossil of the great Woolly Mammoth was discovered in Alaska.

Bouroughs: There are 16 bouroughs
Counties: 27
Original Name: Alyeska - an Aleut term which means "The Great Land"
Volcanos: over 100 volcanos
Major Rivers: Yukon River, Kuskokwim River, Colville River, Copper River
Major Lakes: Iliamna Lake, Aleknagik Lake, Becharof Lake, Clark Lake, Minchumina Lake
Highest Point: Mt. McKinley - 20,320 feet (6,194 m) above sea level
Bordering US States: none
Bordering Country: Canada
Bordering Body of Water: Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Beaufort Sea, Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska
Dinosaur Fossils Found in Alaska: Albertosaurus, Ankylosaur (unknown genus), Edmontosaurus, Pachycephalosaurus, Pachyrhinosaurus, Saurornitholestes, Thescelosaurus, Troödon