Alaska

Un article de Vev.

Modèle:Otheruses Modèle:US state</ref>//erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html#Highest| title =Elevations and Distances in the United States| publisher =U.S Geological Survey| accessmonthday=3 November | accessyear = 2006}}</ref> | HighestElev = 6,193.7 | HighestElevUS = 20,320 | MeanElev = 580 | MeanElevUS = 1900 | LowestPoint = Pacific Ocean<ref name=usgs/> | LowestElev = 0 | LowestElevUS = 0 | ISOCode = US-AK | State song = Alaska`s Flag | Website = www.alaska.gov }} www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/169-02062007-1295065.html Cruising America's 'Last Frontier'], Retrieved on May 24, 2007</ref>//www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/169-02062007-1295065.html Cruising America's 'Last Frontier'], Retrieved on May 24, 2007</ref>

The area that became Alaska was purchased from Russian interests on March 30 1867. The land went through several administrative changes before becoming an organized territory on May 11, 1912 and the 49th state of the U.S. on January 3, 1959. The name "Alaska" is derived from the Aleut alaxsxaq, meaning "the mainland", or more literally "the object towards which the action of the sea is directed".<ref>Ransom, J. Ellis. 1940. Derivation of the Word ‘Alaska’. American Anthropologist n.s., 42: pp. 550-551</ref>

Sommaire 1 Geography 2 Climate 3 History 4 Demographics 4.1 Race and ancestry 4.2 Languages 4.3 Religion 5 Economy 5.1 Permanent Fund 5.2 Cost of living 5.3 Taxes 6 Transportation 6.1 Roads 6.2 Rail 6.3 Marine transport 6.4 Air transport 6.5 Other transport 7 Law and government 7.1 Political leanings 7.2 State government 7.3 Representation in the U.S. Congress 8 Important cities and towns 9 Education 10 Current issues 11 Culture 11.1 Libraries 11.2 Food 11.3 Music 11.4 Movies filmed in Alaska 12 State symbols 13 References 14 See also 15 External links

Geography

www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF14/1404.html |title=Alaska's Size in Perspective |accessdate=2007-11-19 |author=Benson, Carl|date=1998-09-02 |publisher=Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks}}</ref>. It is the only non-contiguous state in North America; about Modèle:Convert/mi of Canadian territory separate Alaska from Washington State. Alaska is thus an exclave of the United States, part of the continental U.S. but is not part of the contiguous U.S.<ref>The other three exclaves of the United States are the Northwest Angle of Minnesota, Point Roberts, Washington, and Alburgh, Vermont.</ref> Alaska is the one of two states whose capital city is inaccessible by land - no roads connect Juneau to the rest of the state, the other one is Hawaii.//www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF14/1404.html |title=Alaska's Size in Perspective |accessdate=2007-11-19 |author=Benson, Carl|date=1998-09-02 |publisher=Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks}}</ref>. It is the only non-contiguous state in North America; about Modèle:Convert/mi of Canadian territory separate Alaska from Washington State. Alaska is thus an exclave of the United States, part of the continental U.S. but is not part of the contiguous U.S.<ref>The other three exclaves of the United States are the Northwest Angle of Minnesota, Point Roberts, Washington, and Alburgh, Vermont.</ref> Alaska is the one of two states whose capital city is inaccessible by land - no roads connect Juneau to the rest of the state, the other one is Hawaii.

The state is bordered by Yukon and British Columbia, Canada to the east, the Gulf of Alaska and the Pacific Ocean to the south, the Bering Sea, Bering Strait, and Chukchi Sea to the west, and the Beaufort Sea and the Arctic Ocean to the north.

Alaska is the largest state in the United States in land area at Modèle:Convert/sqmi, more than twice as large as Texas, the next largest state. It is larger than all but 18 sovereign nations.

One scheme for describing the state's geography is by labeling the regions:

• South Central Alaska is the southern coastal region and contains most of the state's population. Anchorage and many growing towns, such as Palmer, and Wasilla, lie within this area. Petroleum industrial plants, transportation, tourism, and two military bases form the core of the economy here.
• The Alaska Panhandle, also known as Southeast Alaska, is home to many of Alaska's larger towns including the state capital Juneau, tidewater glaciers and extensive forests. Tourism, fishing, forestry and state government anchor the economy.
• Southwest Alaska is largely coastal, bordered by both the Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea. It is sparsely populated, and unconnected to the road system, but incredibly important to the fishing industry. Half of all fish caught in the western U.S. come from the Bering Sea, and Bristol Bay has the world's largest sockeye salmon fishery. Southwest Alaska includes Katmai and Lake Clark national parks as well as numerous wildlife refuges. The region comprises western Cook Inlet, Bristol Bay and its watersheds, the Alaska Peninsula and the Aleutian Islands. It is known for wet and stormy weather, tundra landscapes, and large populations of salmon, brown bears, caribou, birds, and marine mammals.
• The Alaska Interior is home to Fairbanks. The geography is marked by large braided rivers, such as the Yukon River and the Kuskokwim River, as well as Arctic tundra lands and shorelines.
• The Alaskan Bush is the remote, less crowded part of the state, encompassing 380 native villages and small towns such as Nome, Bethel, Kotzebue and, most famously, Barrow, the northernmost town in the United States, as well as the northern most town on the contiguous North American continent (cities in Greenland, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut that are farther north are on islands)^{[citation needed]}.

The northeast corner of Alaska is covered by the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which covers Modèle:Convert/acre. Much of the northwest is covered by the larger National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska, which covers around Modèle:Convert/acre million acres. The Arctic is Alaska's most remote wilderness. A location in the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska is Modèle:Convert/mi miles from any town or village, the geographic point most remote from permanent habitation in the USA.

With its numerous islands, Alaska has nearly Modèle:Convert/mi of tidal shoreline. The island chain extending west from the southern tip of the Alaska Peninsula is called the Aleutian Islands. Many active volcanoes are found in the Aleutians. For example, Unimak Island is home to Mount Shishaldin, a moderately active volcano that rises to Modèle:Convert/LonAoffDbSoff above sea level. The chain of volcanoes extends to Mount Spurr, west of Anchorage on the mainland.

One of North America's largest tides occurs in Turnagain Arm, just south of Anchorage - tidal differences can be more than Modèle:Formatnum:35 feet ({{formatnum:{{rnd/+|35*0.3048/1|1|Modèle:Rnd/01}}}} m). (Many sources say Turnagain has the second-greatest tides in North America, but several areas in Canada have larger tides.<ref>Modèle:Cite journal</ref>)

www.knls.org/English/akfact.htm</ref>. Marshlands and wetland permafrost cover Modèle:Convert/sqmi (mostly in northern, western and southwest flatlands). Frozen water, in the form of glacier ice, covers some Modèle:Convert/sqmi of land and Modèle:Convert/sqmi of tidal zone. The Bering Glacier complex near the southeastern border with Yukon, Canada, covers Modèle:Convert/sqmi alone.//www.knls.org/English/akfact.htm</ref>. Marshlands and wetland permafrost cover Modèle:Convert/sqmi (mostly in northern, western and southwest flatlands). Frozen water, in the form of glacier ice, covers some Modèle:Convert/sqmi of land and Modèle:Convert/sqmi of tidal zone. The Bering Glacier complex near the southeastern border with Yukon, Canada, covers Modèle:Convert/sqmi alone.

The Aleutian Islands cross longitude 180°, so Alaska can be considered the easternmost state as well as the westernmost. Alaska, and especially the Aleutians, are one of the extreme points of the United States. The International Date Line jogs west of 180° to keep the whole state, and thus the entire continental United States, within the same legal day.

According to an October 1998 report by the United States Bureau of Land Management, approximately 65% of Alaska is owned and managed by the U.S. federal government as public lands, including a multitude of national forests, national parks, and national wildlife refuges. Of these, the Bureau of Land Management manages 87 million acres (350,000 km²), or 23.8% of the state. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Of the remaining land area, the State of Alaska owns 24.5%; another 10% is managed by 13 regional and dozens of local Native corporations created under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Various private interests own the remaining land, totaling less than 1%. Modèle:Ussm Alaska is administratively divided into "boroughs", as opposed to "counties." The function is the same, but whereas some states use a three-tiered system of decentralization — state/county/township — most of Alaska uses only two tiers — state/borough. Owing to the low population density, most of the land is located in the Unorganized Borough which, as the name implies, has no intermediate borough government of its own, but is administered directly by the state government. Currently (2000 census) 57.71% of Alaska's area has this status, with 13.05% of the population. For statistical purposes the United States Census Bureau divides this territory into census areas. Anchorage merged the city government with the Greater Anchorage Area Borough in 1971 to form the Municipality of Anchorage, containing the city proper and the bedroom communities of Eagle River, Chugiak, Peters Creek, Girdwood, Bird, and Indian. Fairbanks has a separate borough (the Fairbanks North Star Borough) and municipality (the City of Fairbanks).

Climate

www.ocs.orst.edu/pub/maps/Precipitation/Total/States/AK/ak_ppt.gif Mean Annual Precipitation in Alaska-Yukon]. Oregon Climate Service at Oregon State University. Last accessed 23 October 2006.</ref> This is also the only region in Alaska in which the average daytime high temperature is above freezing during the winter months.//www.ocs.orst.edu/pub/maps/Precipitation/Total/States/AK/ak_ppt.gif Mean Annual Precipitation in Alaska-Yukon]. Oregon Climate Service at Oregon State University. Last accessed 23 October 2006.</ref> This is also the only region in Alaska in which the average daytime high temperature is above freezing during the winter months.

The climate of Anchorage and south central Alaska is mild by Alaskan standards due to the region's proximity to the seacoast. While the area does not get nearly as much rain as southeast Alaska, it does get more snow, although days tend to be clearer. On average, Anchorage receives Modèle:Convert/in of precipitation a year, with around Modèle:Convert/in of snow, although there are areas in the south central which receive far more snow. It is a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc) due to its short, cool summers.

The climate of Western Alaska is determined in large part by the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska. It is a subarctic oceanic climate in the southwest and a continental subarctic climate farther north. The temperature is somewhat moderate considering how far north the area is. This area has a tremendous amount of variety in precipitation. The northern side of the Seward Peninsula is technically a desert with less than Modèle:Convert/in of precipitation annually, while some locations between Dillingham and Bethel average around Modèle:Convert/in of precipitation.<ref name="AK-YK Precip"/>

The climate of the interior of Alaska is best described as extreme and is the best example of a true subarctic climate. Some of the hottest and coldest temperatures in Alaska occur around the area near Fairbanks. The summers can have temperatures reaching into the 80s°F (near 30 °C), while in the winter, the temperature can fall below −60 °F (-52 °C). Precipitation is not much in the Interior, often less than Modèle:Convert/in a year, but what precipitation falls in the winter tends to stay the entire winter.

www.arh.noaa.gov/docs/AKWXfacts.pdf | accessdate = 2007-01-03 }}</ref><ref name=DRI> State Extremes

. Western Regional Climate Center, Desert Research Institute  
 

 

. Retrieved on 2007-01-03. </ref> tied with Pahala, Hawaii as the lowest high temperature in the United States.<ref> SD Weather History and Trivia for May: May 1

. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration  
 

 

. Retrieved on 2007-01-03. </ref><ref> FAQ ALASKA - Frequently Asked Questions About Alaska: Weather

. Statewide Library Electronic Doorway, University of Alaska Fairbanks 
 
 (2005-01-17)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-01-03. </ref> The lowest Alaska temperature is −80 °F (-64 °C) in Prospect Creek on January 23, 1971,<ref name="NOAA-All Hazards"/><ref name=DRI/> one degree above the lowest temperature recorded in North America (in Snag, Yukon, Canada).<ref> Ned Rozell

     (2003-01-23)
   
.    The Coldest Place in North America 
. Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-01-03. </ref>//www.arh.noaa.gov/docs/AKWXfacts.pdf | accessdate = 2007-01-03 }}</ref><ref name=DRI> State Extremes

. Western Regional Climate Center, Desert Research Institute  
 

 

. Retrieved on 2007-01-03. </ref> tied with Pahala, Hawaii as the lowest high temperature in the United States.<ref> SD Weather History and Trivia for May: May 1

. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration  
 

 

. Retrieved on 2007-01-03. </ref><ref> FAQ ALASKA - Frequently Asked Questions About Alaska: Weather

. Statewide Library Electronic Doorway, University of Alaska Fairbanks 
 
 (2005-01-17)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-01-03. </ref> The lowest Alaska temperature is −80 °F (-64 °C) in Prospect Creek on January 23, 1971,<ref name="NOAA-All Hazards"/><ref name=DRI/> one degree above the lowest temperature recorded in North America (in Snag, Yukon, Canada).<ref> Ned Rozell

     (2003-01-23)
   
.    The Coldest Place in North America 
. Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-01-03. </ref>

www.wunderground.com/history/airport/PABR/2006/7/23/MonthlyHistory.html History for Barrow, Alaska. Monthly Summary for July 2006]. Weather Underground. Last accessed 23 October 2006.</ref> Precipitation is light in this part of Alaska, with many places averaging less than Modèle:Convert/in per year, mostly in the form of snow which stays on the ground almost the entire year.//www.wunderground.com/history/airport/PABR/2006/7/23/MonthlyHistory.html History for Barrow, Alaska. Monthly Summary for July 2006]. Weather Underground. Last accessed 23 October 2006.</ref> Precipitation is light in this part of Alaska, with many places averaging less than Modèle:Convert/in per year, mostly in the form of snow which stays on the ground almost the entire year.

History

Main article: History of Alaska

At the end of the Upper Paleolithic Period (around 12,000 BCE), Asiatic groups crossed the Bering Land Bridge into what is now western Alaska. At the time of European contact by the Russian explorers, the area was populated by Alaska Native groups.

The first European contact with Alaska occurred in the 1741, when Vitus Bering led an expedition for the Russian Navy aboard the St. Peter. After his crew returned to Russia bearing sea otter pelts judged to be the finest fur in the world, small associations of fur traders began to sail from the shores of Siberia towards the Aleutian islands. The first permanent European settlement was founded in 1784, and the Russian-American Company carried out expanded an colonization program during the early to mid-1800s. Despite these efforts, the Russians never fully colonized Alaska, and the colony was never very profitable. William H. Seward, the U.S. Secretary of State, engineered the Alaskan purchase in 1867 for $7.2 million.

In the 1890s, gold rushes in Alaska and the nearby Yukon Territory brought thousands of miners and settlers to Alaska. Alaska was granted territorial status in 1912.

During World War II, three of the outer Aleutian Islands—Attu, Agattu and Kiska—were the only part of the United States to have land occupied by the enemy during the war. The battle became a matter of national pride, defending the nation against the first foreign military campaign on U.S. soil since the War of 1812. The construction of military bases also contributed to the population growth of some Alaskan cities.

Alaska was granted statehood on January 3, 1959.

In 1964, the massive "Good Friday Earthquake" killed 131 people and leveled several villages.

The 1968 discovery of oil at Prudhoe Bay and the 1977 completion of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline led to an oil boom. In 1989, the Exxon Valdez hit a reef in the Prince William Sound, spilling between 11 and 35 million US gallons (42,000-130,000 m³) of crude oil over 1,100 miles (1,600 km) of coastline. Today, the battle between philosophies of development and conservation is seen in the contentious debate over oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Alaska

Modèle:USCensusPop

www.census.gov/population/cen2000/phc-t2/tab01.txt</ref> Alaska is the least densely populated state, at 0.42 people per square kilometer (1.1 per square mile), with the next state, Wyoming, at 1.97 (5.1 per square mile), and the most densely populated, New Jersey, at 437.6 people per square kilometer (1,134.4 per square mile).//www.census.gov/population/cen2000/phc-t2/tab01.txt</ref> Alaska is the least densely populated state, at 0.42 people per square kilometer (1.1 per square mile), with the next state, Wyoming, at 1.97 (5.1 per square mile), and the most densely populated, New Jersey, at 437.6 people per square kilometer (1,134.4 per square mile).

Race and ancestry

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, 75% of Alaska residents are white. 19% are American Indian or Alaska Native, the largest proportion of any state. Multiracial/Mixed-Race people are the third largest group of people in the state, totaling 6.9% of the population. The largest self-reported ancestry groups in the state are German (16.6%), Alaska Native or American Indian (15.6%), Irish (10.8%), British (9.6%), American (5.7%), and Norwegian (4.2%).

The vast sparsely-populated regions of northern and western Alaska are primarily inhabited by Alaska Natives, who are also numerous in the southeast. Anchorage, Fairbanks, and other parts of south-central and southeast Alaska have many whites of northern and western European ancestry. The Wrangell-Petersburg area has many residents of Scandinavian ancestry and the Aleutians contain a large Filipino population. Most of the state's black population lives in Anchorage. Fairbanks also has a sizable black population.

Languages

www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=2&county_id=&mode=state_tops&zip=&place_id=&cty_id=&a=&ea=&order=&ll=all</ref> A total of 5.2% of Alaskans speak one of the state's 22 indigenous languages, known locally as Native languages.//www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=2&county_id=&mode=state_tops&zip=&place_id=&cty_id=&a=&ea=&order=&ll=all</ref> A total of 5.2% of Alaskans speak one of the state's 22 indigenous languages, known locally as Native languages.

Religion

www.adherents.com/Na/Na_472.html</ref> Eighty-two percent of Alaskans are Christians.^{[citation needed]} Of these, 76% are Protestant, 10% are Eastern Orthodox, 9% are Catholic, 5% are Mormon, and 1% are Episcopalian.//www.adherents.com/Na/Na_472.html</ref> Eighty-two percent of Alaskans are Christians.^{[citation needed]} Of these, 76% are Protestant, 10% are Eastern Orthodox, 9% are Catholic, 5% are Mormon, and 1% are Episcopalian. sled.alaska.edu/akfaq/akchron.html//sled.alaska.edu/akfaq/akchron.html In 1795: First Russian Orthodox Church established in Kodiak. Alexander Baranov had a great influence in promoting the Russian Orthodox Church. vilda.alaska.edu/u?/cdmg11,4904//vilda.alaska.edu/u?/cdmg11,4904 www.thearda.com/mapsReports/maps/map.asp?state=101&variable=201 Association of Religion Data Archive</ref> In 2003 there were three thousand Jews in Alaska.<ref>http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/population/religion/ 75 - Christian Church Adherents, 2000, and Jewish Population, 2003--States [Excel 27k]</ref>//www.thearda.com/mapsReports/maps/map.asp?state=101&variable=201 Association of Religion Data Archive</ref> In 2003 there were three thousand Jews in Alaska.<ref>http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/population/religion/ 75 - Christian Church Adherents, 2000, and Jewish Population, 2003--States [Excel 27k]</ref>

Economy

The 2005 gross state product was $39.9 billion. Its per-capita GSP for 2005 was $60,079, 3rd in the nation. Alaska's economy relies heavily on petroleum extraction, with more than 80% of the state's revenues derived from this industry. Alaska's main export product (excluding oil and natural gas) is seafood, primarily salmon, cod, pollock and crab. Agriculture represents only a fraction of the Alaska economy. Agricultural production is primarily for consumption within the state and includes nursery stock, dairy products, vegetables, and livestock. Manufacturing is limited, with most foodstuffs and general goods imported from elsewhere. Employment is primarily in government and industries such as natural resource extraction, shipping, and transportation. Military bases are a significant component of the economy in both Fairbanks and Anchorage. Its industrial outputs are crude petroleum, natural gas, coal, gold, precious metals, zinc and other mining, seafood processing, timber and wood products. There is also a growing service and tourism sector. Tourists have contributed to the economy by supporting local lodging.

www.dced.state.ak.us/dca/AEIS/PDF_Files/AIDEA_Energy_Screening.pdf Screening Report for Alaska Rural Energy Plan], April, 2001</ref> The cost of a gallon of gas in urban Alaska today is usually $0.30-$0.60 higher than the national average; prices in rural areas are generally significantly higher but vary widely depending on transportation costs, seasonal usage peaks, nearby petroleum development infrastructure and many other factors.//www.dced.state.ak.us/dca/AEIS/PDF_Files/AIDEA_Energy_Screening.pdf Screening Report for Alaska Rural Energy Plan], April, 2001</ref> The cost of a gallon of gas in urban Alaska today is usually $0.30-$0.60 higher than the national average; prices in rural areas are generally significantly higher but vary widely depending on transportation costs, seasonal usage peaks, nearby petroleum development infrastructure and many other factors.

Permanent Fund

www.apfc.org/alaska/dividendprgrm.cfm</ref>//www.apfc.org/alaska/dividendprgrm.cfm</ref>

Cost of living

The cost of goods in Alaska has long been higher than in the contiguous 48 states. This has changed for the most part in Anchorage and to a lesser extent in Fairbanks, where the cost of living has dropped somewhat in the past five years. Federal Government employees, particularly United States Postal Service (USPS) workers and active-duty military members, receive a Cost Of Living Allowance usually set at 25% of base pay because, while the cost of living has gone down, it is still one of the highest in the country.

The introduction of big-box stores in Anchorage, Fairbanks (Wal-Mart in March of 2004), and Juneau also did much to lower prices. However, rural Alaska suffers from extremely high prices for food and consumer goods, compared to the rest of the country due to the relatively limited transportation infrastructure. Many rural residents come in to these cities and purchase food and goods in bulk from warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam's Club. Some have embraced the free shipping offers of some online retailers to purchase items much more cheaply than they could in their own communities, if they are available at all.

Taxes

money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/taxesbystate2005/index.html</ref>, and is one of only six states with no state sales tax and one of seven states that do not levy an individual income tax. To finance state government operations, Alaska depends primarily on petroleum revenues. The Department of Revenue Tax Division reports regularly on the state's revenue sources. The Department also issues an annual overview of its operations, including new state laws that directly affect the tax division.//money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/taxesbystate2005/index.html</ref>, and is one of only six states with no state sales tax and one of seven states that do not levy an individual income tax. To finance state government operations, Alaska depends primarily on petroleum revenues. The Department of Revenue Tax Division reports regularly on the state's revenue sources. The Department also issues an annual overview of its operations, including new state laws that directly affect the tax division.

While Alaska has no state sales tax, 89 municipalities collect a local sales tax, from 1% to 7%, typically 3% to 5%. Other local taxes levied include raw fish taxes, hotel, motel, and B&B “bed” taxes, severance taxes, liquor and tobacco taxes, gaming (pull tabs) taxes, tire taxes and fuel transfer taxes. A percentage of revenue collected from certain state taxes and license fees (such as petroleum, aviation motor fuel, telephone cooperative) is shared with municipalities in Alaska.

Property taxes are relatively low, with only 25 of 161 incorporated municipalities or boroughs in the state assessing property taxes.^{[citation needed]} Fairbanks has one of the highest property taxes in the state as no sales or income taxes are assessed in the Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB). A sales tax for the FNSB has been voted on many times, but has yet to be approved, leading law makers to increase taxes dramatically on other goods such as liquor and tobacco. The average per capita property tax paid in all municipalities, excluding oil and gas properties, was US$999 (2003 data).^{[citation needed]}

Transportation

Roads

Modèle:See also Alaska has few road connections compared to the rest of the U.S.. The state's road system covers a relatively small area of the state, linking the central population centers and the Alaska Highway, the principal route out of the state through Canada. The state capital, Juneau, is not accessible by road, which has spurred several debates over the decades about moving the capital to a city on the road system. One unique feature of the road system is the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel which links the Seward Highway south of Anchorage with the relatively isolated community of Whittier. At nearly 2.5 miles [4 km] the tunnel was the longest road tunnel in North America until completion of the 3.5 mile (5.6 km) Interstate 93 tunnel as part of the "Big Dig" project in Boston, Massachusetts. The tunnel is the longest combination road and rail tunnel in North America.

Rail

The Alaska Railroad runs from Seward through Anchorage, Denali, and Fairbanks to North Pole, with spurs to Whittier and Palmer (locally known as "The Railbelt"). The railroad is famous for its summertime passenger services and also plays a vital part in moving Alaska's natural resources, such as coal and gravel, to ports in Anchorage, Whittier, and Seward. The Alaska Railroad is one of the few remaining railroads in North America to use cabooses in regular service and offers one of the last flag stop routes in the country. A stretch of about 60 miles of track along an area inaccessible by road is the only transportation to cabins in the area.

Marine transport

Most cities and villages in the state are accessible only by sea or air. Alaska has a well-developed ferry system, known as the Alaska Marine Highway, which serves the cities of Southeast and the Alaska Peninsula. The system also operates a ferry service from Bellingham, Washington via the Inside Passage to Skagway. The Inter-Island Ferry Authority also serves as an important marine link for many communities in the Prince of Wales Island region of Southeast and works in concert with the Alaska Marine Highway. Tourist sea travel is also popular on Alaska cruises.

Air transport

www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/toubus/pub/AVSPSummerArrival111402.pdf Alaska Visitor Arrivals and Profile-Summer 2001]. November, 2002; retrieved September 11, 2006.</ref><ref>State of Alaska Office of Economic Development. Alaska Visitor Arrivals and Profile-Fall/Winter 2001. November, 2002; retrieved September 11, 2006.</ref>).//www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/toubus/pub/AVSPSummerArrival111402.pdf Alaska Visitor Arrivals and Profile-Summer 2001]. November, 2002; retrieved September 11, 2006.</ref><ref>State of Alaska Office of Economic Development. Alaska Visitor Arrivals and Profile-Fall/Winter 2001. November, 2002; retrieved September 11, 2006.</ref>).

www.faa.gov/data_statistics/aviation_data_statistics/civil_airmen_statistics/2005/ 2005 U.S. Civil Airman Statistics]</ref>//www.faa.gov/data_statistics/aviation_data_statistics/civil_airmen_statistics/2005/ 2005 U.S. Civil Airman Statistics]</ref>

Alaska has the longest runway in the world as the entire length of the Richardson Highway is designated an emergency landing strip.

Other transport

Another Alaskan transportation method is the dogsled. In modern times, dog mushing is more of a sport than a true means of transportation. Various races are held around the state, but the best known is the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, a 1150-mile (1850 km) trail from Anchorage to Nome. The race commemorates the famous 1925 serum run to Nome in which mushers and dogs like Balto took much-needed medicine to the diphtheria-stricken community of Nome when all other means of transportation had failed. Mushers from all over the world come to Anchorage each March to compete for cash prizes and prestige.

In areas not served by road or rail, primary transportation in summer is by all-terrain vehicle and in winter by snowmobile or "snow machine," as it is commonly referred to in Alaska.

Law and government

Main article: Government of Alaska

Political leanings

www.gov.state.ak.us/ltgov/elections/regbypty.htm</ref>, despite recent attempts to close primaries. Alaska possesses a pervasively strong independence movement favoring secession from the US, with the Alaskan Independence Party labeled one of the "the most significant state-level third parties operating in the 20th century". <ref>Doughtery, J. (February 25 2001 ). Alaska party stumps for independence. World Net Daily. Retrieved from http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=21840</ref>//www.gov.state.ak.us/ltgov/elections/regbypty.htm</ref>, despite recent attempts to close primaries. Alaska possesses a pervasively strong independence movement favoring secession from the US, with the Alaskan Independence Party labeled one of the "the most significant state-level third parties operating in the 20th century". <ref>Doughtery, J. (February 25 2001 ). Alaska party stumps for independence. World Net Daily. Retrieved from http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=21840</ref>

State government

December 4 2006, Sarah Palin was sworn in as the first woman and youngest Governor of Alaska. Her running mate was Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell. Palin is the former two-term mayor of Wasilla, Alaska.

The Alaska Legislature consists of a 20-member Senate, whose members serve four-year terms, and 40-member House of Representatives, who serve two-year terms. It has been dominated by conservatives, generally Republicans. Recent state governors have been mostly conservatives, although not always elected under the official Republican banner. Republican Wally Hickel was elected to the office for a second term in 1990 after jumping the Republican ship and briefly joining the Alaskan Independence Party ticket just long enough to be reelected. He subsequently officially rejoined the Republican fold in 1994.

www.state.ak.us/courts/ctinfo.htm</ref> The superior and district courts are trial courts. Superior courts are courts of general jurisdiction, while district courts only hear certain types of cases, including misdemeanor criminal cases and civil cases valued up to $100,000.<ref name="cts"/> The supreme court and the court of appeals are appellate courts. The court of appeals is required to hear appeals from certain lower-court decisions, including those regarding criminal prosecutions, juvenile delinquency, and habeas corpus.<ref name="cts"/> The supreme court hears civil appeals and may in its discretion hear criminal appeals.<ref name="cts"/>//www.state.ak.us/courts/ctinfo.htm</ref> The superior and district courts are trial courts. Superior courts are courts of general jurisdiction, while district courts only hear certain types of cases, including misdemeanor criminal cases and civil cases valued up to $100,000.<ref name="cts"/> The supreme court and the court of appeals are appellate courts. The court of appeals is required to hear appeals from certain lower-court decisions, including those regarding criminal prosecutions, juvenile delinquency, and habeas corpus.<ref name="cts"/> The supreme court hears civil appeals and may in its discretion hear criminal appeals.<ref name="cts"/>

Local political communities often work on issues related to land use development, fishing, tourism, and individual rights. Alaska Natives, while organized in and around their communities, are often active within the Native corporations which have been given ownership over large tracts of land, and thus need to deliberate resource conservation and development issues.

Representation in the U.S. Congress

Alaska's members of the U.S. Congress are all Republican. U.S. Senator Ted Stevens was appointed to the position following the death of U.S. Senator Bob Bartlett in December 1968, and has not lost a re-election campaign since. As the longest-serving Republican in the Senate (sometimes nicknamed "Senator-For-Life"), Stevens has been a crucial force in gaining federal money for his state.

Until his resignation from the U.S. Senate after being elected governor in 2002, Republican Frank Murkowski held the state's other senatorial position and, as governor, appointed his daughter, State Representative Lisa Murkowski as his successor (under massive public pressure, the State legislature amended the constitution to eliminate gubernatorial appointments in the future). She won a full six-year term on her own in 2004.

Alaska's sole U.S. Representative, Don Young, was re-elected to his 17th consecutive term, also in 2004. His seniority in House makes him one of the most influential Republican House members.

Important cities and towns

Modèle:Seealso Alaska's most populous city is Anchorage, home to 260,283 people in 2000, 225,744 of whom live in the urbanized area. The richest location in Alaska by per capita income is Halibut Cove ($89,895). Sitka, Juneau, and Anchorage are the three largest cities in the U.S. by area.

Also notable is the rapid growth of towns in the Mat-Su Valley. Wasilla and Palmer are projected to experience over 100% population growth between 2000 and 2010.^{[citation needed]}

Cities of 100,000 or more people Anchorage
Towns of 10,000-100,000 people Fairbanks Juneau
Towns of 1,000-10,000 people
Ketchikan Sitka Wasilla Kenai Kodiak Palmer Bethel Barrow		Unalaska Valdez Soldotna Homer Nome Petersburg Kotzebue Seward		Dillingham Cordova Haines North Pole Hooper Bay Craig Houston
Smaller towns Alaska has many smaller towns, especially in the Alaska Bush, the portion of the state that is inaccessible by road.

Education

www.alaskaice.org/material.php?matID=138</ref>//www.alaskaice.org/material.php?matID=138</ref>

www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/rankindex_brief.php]</ref> 43% of the population attends or attended college.^{[citation needed]}//www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/rankindex_brief.php]</ref> 43% of the population attends or attended college.^{[citation needed]}

Current issues

Alaska has long had a problem with alcohol use and abuse. Many rural communities in Alaska have outlawed its import. "Dry", "wet", and "damp" are terms describing a community's laws on liquor consumption. This problem directly relates to Alaska's high rate of Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) as well as contributing to the high rate of suicides. This is a controversial topic for many residents.

www.alaska.edu/scholars/faq.xml#scholars_award].//www.alaska.edu/scholars/faq.xml#scholars_award].

Domestic abuse and other violent crimes are also at notoriously high levels in the state; this is in part linked to alcohol abuse.

Alaska is also the only state to allow legal possession of marijuana: an adult may possess four ounces for personal use.<ref>Noy v. Alaska, 83 P.3d 538, 543 (2003).</ref>

Culture

See also List of artists and writers from Alaska

Modèle:Expand Some of Alaska's popular annual events are the World Ice Art Championships in Fairbanks, the Alaska Hummingbird Festival in Ketchikan, the Sitka Whale Fest, and the Stikine River Garnet Fest in Wrangell. The Stikine River features the largest springtime concentration of American Bald Eagles in the world.

The Alaska Native Heritage Center celebrates the rich heritage of Alaska's 11 cultural groups. Their purpose is to enhance self-esteem among Native people and to encourage cross-cultural exchanges among all people.

Libraries

The four main libraries in the state are the Alaska State Library in Juneau, the Elmer E. Rasmuson Library in Fairbanks, the Z. J. Loussac Library in Anchorage, and the UAA/APU Consortium Library, also in Anchorage. Alaska is one of three states (the others are Delaware and Rhode Island) that does not have a Carnegie library.

Food

Due to the northern climate and steep terrain, relatively little farming occurs in Alaska. Most farms are in either the Mat-Su Valley near Anchorage, or on the Kenai Peninsula. The short summer limits the types of crops that can be grown - primary crops are potatoes, carrots, lettuce, and cabbage. But the long days of summer can allow these vegetables to reach record size. Alaska has an abundance of seafood, with the primary fisheries in the Bering Sea, and seafood is one of the few food items that is often cheaper within the state than outside it. Hunting for subsistence, primarily caribou, moose, and sheep is still fairly common in the state, particularly in remote Bush communities. An example of a traditional native food is Akutaq, the Eskimo ice cream, consisting of reindeer fat and seal oil and some berries.

Most food in Alaska is transported into the state from outside, and is relatively expensive due to the high shipping costs.

Music

Main article: Music of Alaska

Influences on music in Alaska include the traditional music of Alaska Natives as well as folk music brought by later immigrants from Russia and Europe. Prominent musicians from Alaska include singer Jewel, traditional Aleut flautist Mary Youngblood, folk singer-songwriter Libby Roderick, the group Pamyua, and the metal band 36 Crazyfists.

There are many established music festivals in Alaska, including the Alaska Folk Festival, the Fairbanks Winter Music Fest the Anchorage Folk Festival, the Athabascan Old-Time Fiddling Festival, and the Sitka Summer Music Festival. The most prominent symphony in Alaska is the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, though the Juneau Symphony is also notable. The Anchorage Opera is currently the state's only professional opera company, though there are several volunteer and semi-professional organizations in the state as well.

The official state song of Alaska is "Alaska's Flag", which was adopted in 1955; it celebrates the flag of Alaska.

Movies filmed in Alaska

One of the most prominent movies filmed in Alaska was MGM's Academy Award winning classic "Eskimo/Mala The Magnificent" starring Alaska's own Ray Mala. In 1932 an expedition set out from MGM's studios in Hollywood to Alaska to film what was then billed as "The Biggest Picture Ever Made". Upon arriving in Alaska, they set up "Camp Hollywood" in Northwest Alaska where they lived during the duration of the filming. Louis B. Mayer spared no expense in making sure they had everything they needed during their stay-he even sent the famous chef from the Hotel Roosevelt on Hollywood Blvd (the site of the first Oscars) with them to Alaska to cook for them. When "Eskimo" premiered at the famed Astor Theatre in Times Square, New York, the studio received the largest amount of feedback in the history of the studio up to that time. "Eskimo" was critically acclaimed and released worldwide; as a result Inupiat Eskimo actor Ray Mala became an international movie star. "Eskimo" is significant for the following: winning the very first Oscar for Best Film Editing at the Academy Awards, for forever preserving Inupiat culture on film, and for being the first motion picture to be filmed in an all native language (Inupiat).

State symbols

• State bird: Willow Ptarmigan, adopted by the Territorial Legislature in 1955. It is a small (15-17 inches) Arctic grouse that lives among willows and on open tundra and muskeg. Plumage is brown in summer, changing to white in winter. The Willow Ptarmigan is common in much of Alaska.
• State fish: King Salmon, adopted 1962.

www.akcf.org/_pages/about_ACF/about_alaska/state_symbols.php</ref> It is a perennial that is found throughout Alaska, from Hyder to the Arctic Coast, and west to the Aleutians.//www.akcf.org/_pages/about_ACF/about_alaska/state_symbols.php</ref> It is a perennial that is found throughout Alaska, from Hyder to the Arctic Coast, and west to the Aleutians.

• State fossil: Woolly Mammoth, adopted 1986.
• State gem: Jade, adopted 1968.
• State insect: Four-spot skimmer dragonfly, adopted 1995.
• State land mammal: Moose, adopted 1998.
• State marine mammal: Bowhead Whale, adopted 1983.
• State mineral: Gold, adopted 1968.
• State song: "Alaska's Flag"
• State sport: Dog Mushing, adopted 1972.
• State tree: Sitka Spruce, adopted 1962.

References

See also

• Scouting in Alaska
• Alaska State Troopers
• List of athletes from Alaska
• Wildlife of Alaska
• Coming into the Country, a 1976 nonfiction book by John McPhee.

External links

Modèle:Sisterlinks www.alaska.gov/ State of Alaska website]//www.alaska.gov/ State of Alaska website] www.alaska.gov/ State of Alaska website]//www.alcnet.org/projects/overview/alaska Alaska], project area of the American Land Conservancy www.alaska.gov/ State of Alaska website]//www.aitc.org/Intrnl.Declaration.htm Alaska Inter-Tribal Council] www.alaska.gov/ State of Alaska website]//www.usgs.gov/state/state.asp?State=AK USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Alaska] www.alaska.gov/ State of Alaska website]//quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/02000.html US Census Bureau] www.alaska.gov/ State of Alaska website]//www.ers.usda.gov/statefacts/ak.htm Alaska State Facts] www.alaska.gov/ State of Alaska website]//www.dced.state.ak.us/dca/commdb/CF_COMDB.htm Alaska Community Database System] www.alaska.gov/ State of Alaska website]//www.alaskareport.com/ Alaska news website]

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