{{otheruses}}
{{US state
| Name = Alaska
| Fullname = State of Alaska
| Flag = Flag of Alaska.svg
| Flaglink = [[Flag of Alaska]]
| Seal = AlaskaStateSealTransparent.png
| Map = Alaska locator.png
| Nickname = The Last Frontier
| Motto = "North to the Future"
| Capital = [[Juneau, Alaska|Juneau]]
| OfficialLang = none
| Languages = [[English language|English]] 85.7%, <br> Native North American 5.2%,<br> [[Spanish language|Spanish]] 2.9%
| LargestCity = [[Anchorage, Alaska|Anchorage]]
| Governor = [[Sarah Palin]] (R)
| Senators = [[Ted Stevens]] (R) <br> [[Lisa Murkowski]] (R)
| U.S. Representative = Don Young (R)
| PostalAbbreviation = AK
| AreaRank = 1^st
| TotalArea = 1,717,855
| TotalAreaUS = 663,267
| LandArea = 1,481,347
| LandAreaUS = 571,951
| WaterArea = 236,507
| WaterAreaUS = 91,316
| PCWater = 13.77
| PopRank = 47^th
| 2000Pop = 626,932
| 2005Pop = 663,661
| DensityRank = 50^th
| 2000Density = 0.42
| 2000DensityUS = 1.09
| MedianHouseholdIncome = $54,627 |
IncomeRank = 6^th |
| AdmittanceOrder = 49^th
| AdmittanceDate = [[January 3]], [[1959]]
| TimeZone = [[Alaska Standard Time Zone|Alaska]]: [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]-9/[[Daylight saving time|DST]]-8
| TZ1Where = east of 169° 30'
| TimeZone2 = [[Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time Zone|Aleutian]]: UTC-10/[[Daylight saving time|DST]]-9
| TZ2Where = west of 169° 30'
| Latitude = 51°20'N to 71°50'N
| Longitude = 130°W to 172°E
| Width = 1,300
| WidthUS = 808
| Length = 2,380
| LengthUS = 1,479
| HighestPoint = [[Mount McKinley]]<ref name=usgs>{{cite web| year =[[29 April]] [[2005]] | url =http://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
}}
'''Alaska''' ({{IPAEng|əˈlæskə}}, {{lang-ru|Аляска}}) is a [[U.S. state|state]] in the [[United States|United States of America]], in the extreme northwest portion of the [[North America]]n continent. It is the largest [[U.S. state]] by [[List of U.S. states by area|area]] (by a substantial margin), and one of the wealthiest and most racially diverse.<ref> Vallano, Elissa: [http://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 [[Russia]]n 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 language|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>

==Geography==
Alaska is one of two U.S. states not bordered by another state, [[Hawaii]] being the other. Alaska has more [[coastline]] than all the other US states combined<ref>{{cite web |url=http://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 {{convert|500|mi|km|-1}} of [[Canada|Canadian]] territory separate Alaska from [[Washington|Washington State]]. Alaska is thus an [[exclave]] of the United States, part of the [[Continental United States|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 City and Borough, Alaska|Juneau]] to the rest of the state, the other one is [[Hawaii]].

The state is bordered by the Yukon Territory 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 {{convert|570380|sqmi|sqkm|0}}, more than twice as large as [[Texas]], the next largest state. It is larger than all but 18 sovereign nations.
[[Image:Looking back to Little Port Walter - NOAA.jpg|thumb|250px|Near Little Port Walter in Southeast Alaska.]]
[[Image:NushagakRiver.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Nushagak River]] in [[Southwest Alaska]].]]
[[Image:Wrangells1.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Mount Sanford (Alaska)|Mount Sanford]] in the [[Wrangell Mountains]].]]
[[Image:Kenai3.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Kenai River]] on the [[Kenai Peninsula]].]]
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, Alaska|Anchorage]] and many growing towns, such as [[Palmer, Alaska|Palmer]], and [[Wasilla, Alaska|Wasilla]], lie within this area. [[Petroleum]] industrial plants, transportation, [[tourism]], and two [[military base]]s 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 [[glacier]]s 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 National Park and Preserve|Katmai]] and [[Lake Clark National Park|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, Alaska|Fairbanks]]. The geography is marked by large [[braided river]]s, 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, Alaska|Nome]], [[Bethel, Alaska|Bethel]], [[Kotzebue, Alaska|Kotzebue]] and, most famously, [[Barrow, Alaska|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){{Fact|date=November 2007}}.

The northeast corner of Alaska is covered by the [[Arctic National Wildlife Refuge]], which covers {{convert|19049236|acre|sqkm|0|lk=on}}. Much of the northwest is covered by the larger [[National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska]], which covers around {{convert|23000000|acre|sqkm|-2}} million acres. The Arctic is Alaska's most remote wilderness. A location in the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska is {{convert|120|mi|km|-1}} miles from any town or village, the geographic point most remote from permanent habitation in the USA.

With its numerous islands, Alaska has nearly {{convert|34000|mi|km|-1}} of tidal shoreline. The island chain extending west from the southern tip of the [[Alaska Peninsula]] is called the [[Aleutian Islands]]. Many active [[volcano]]es are found in the Aleutians. For example, [[Unimak Island]] is home to [[Mount Shishaldin]], a moderately active volcano that rises to {{convert|9980|ft|m|0}} 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 {{convert|35|ft|m|1}}. (Many sources say Turnagain has the second-greatest tides in North America, but several areas in Canada have larger tides.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Porco, Peter|date = [[June 23]], [[2003]] | title = Long said to be second to Fundy, city tides aren't even close | journal = [[Anchorage Daily News]] | pages = A1}}</ref>)

Alaska has 3.5 million [[lake]]s of {{convert|20|acre|ha|0}} or larger <ref>http://www.knls.org/English/akfact.htm</ref>. [[Marshland]]s and wetland [[permafrost]] cover {{convert|188320|sqmi|sqkm|0}} (mostly in northern, western and southwest flatlands). Frozen water, in the form of [[glacier]] ice, covers some {{convert|16000|sqmi|sqkm|-1}} of land and {{convert|1200|sqmi|sqkm|-1}} of tidal zone. The [[Bering Glacier]] complex near the southeastern border with [[Yukon]], [[Canada]], covers {{convert|2250|sqmi|sqkm|0}} 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 [[Federal government of the United States|U.S. federal government]] as public lands, including a multitude of [[United States National Forest|national forest]]s, [[national park]]s, and [[national wildlife refuge]]s. Of these, the [[Bureau of Land Management]] manages 87 million acres (350,000&nbsp;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%.
{{ussm|alaska.png|ak}}
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 &mdash; state/county/township &mdash; most of Alaska uses only two tiers &mdash; 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 ([[United States Census, 2000|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 area]]s. 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==

The climate in Juneau and the southeast panhandle is best described as a cooler version of [[Seattle, Washington|Seattle]]. It is a mid-latitude [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfb'') in the southern sections and a subarctic oceanic climate (Köppen ''Cfc'') in the northern parts. On an annual basis, this is both the wettest and warmest part of Alaska with milder temperatures in the winter and high precipitation throughout the year. Juneau averages over {{convert|50|in|mm|-1}} of precipitation a year, while other areas receive over {{convert|275|in|mm|-1}}.<ref name="AK-YK Precip">[http://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 {{convert|16|in|mm|0}} of precipitation a year, with around {{convert|75|in|mm|0}} 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.

[[Image:Barrow beach.jpg|thumb|300px|right|[[Barrow, Alaska]] is the northernmost city in the United States.]]
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 {{convert|10|in|mm|-1}} of precipitation annually, while some locations between Dillingham and Bethel average around {{convert|100|in|mm|-1}} 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 {{convert|10|in|mm|-1}} a year, but what precipitation falls in the winter tends to stay the entire winter.

The highest and lowest recorded temperatures in Alaska are both in the Interior. The highest is 100 °F (38 °C) in [[Fort Yukon, Alaska|Fort Yukon]] on [[June 27]], [[1915]],<ref name="NOAA-All Hazards">{{cite web | title = NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards Information - Alaska Weather Interesting Facts and Records | publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] | format = PDF | url = http://www.arh.noaa.gov/docs/AKWXfacts.pdf | accessdate = 2007-01-03 }}</ref><ref name=DRI>{{cite web | title = State Extremes | publisher = Western Regional Climate Center, [[Desert Research Institute]] | url = http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/htmlfiles/state.extremes.html | accessdate = 2007-01-03 }}</ref> tied with [[Pahala, Hawaii]] as the lowest high temperature in the United States.<ref>{{cite web | title = SD Weather History and Trivia for May: May 1 | publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] | url = http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/?n=fsdtrivia05 | accessdate = 2007-01-03 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = FAQ ALASKA - Frequently Asked Questions About Alaska: Weather | publisher = Statewide Library Electronic Doorway, [[University of Alaska Fairbanks]] | date= 2005-01-17 | url = http://sled.alaska.edu/akfaq/aksuper.html#wea | accessdate = 2007-01-03 }}</ref> The lowest Alaska temperature is −80 °F (-64 °C) in [[Prospect Creek, Alaska|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#Snag|Snag, Yukon, Canada]]).<ref>{{cite web | author = Ned Rozell | title = The Coldest Place in North America | publisher = Geophysical Institute of the [[University of Alaska Fairbanks]] | date= 2003-01-23 | url = http://www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF16/1630.html | accessdate = 2007-01-03 }}</ref>

The climate in the extreme north of Alaska is as expected for an area north of the [[Arctic Circle]]. It is an [[polar climate|Arctic climate]] (Köppen ''ET'') with long, very cold winters and short, cool summers. Even in July, the average low temperature is barely above freezing in Barrow, at 34 °F (2 °C).<ref>[http://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 {{convert|10|in|mm|-1}} per year, mostly in the form of snow which stays on the ground almost the entire year.

==History==
{{main|History of Alaska}}
[[Image:Miners climb Chilkoot.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Miners and prospectors climb the [[Chilkoot Trail]] during the [[Klondike Gold Rush]].]]
At the end of the [[Upper Paleolithic]] Period (around 12,000 BC), [[Asian people|Asiatic]] groups crossed the [[Bering Land Bridge]] into what is now western Alaska. At the time of European contact by the [[Russian colonization of the Americas|Russian explorers]], the area was populated by [[Alaska Native]] groups.

The first European contact with Alaska occurred in the year 1741, when [[Vitus Bering]] led an [[second Kamchatka expedition|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 an expanded 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 [[United States Secretary of State|U.S. Secretary of State]], engineered the [[Alaska purchase|Alaskan purchase]] in 1867 for $7.2 million.

In the 1890s, [[gold rush]]es 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&nbsp;miles (1,600&nbsp;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|Demographics of Alaska}}
{{USCensusPop
|1950=128643
|1960=226167
|1970=300382
|1980=401851
|1990=550043
|2000=626932
|estyear=2006
|estimate=670053
}}

In 2006 Alaska had an estimated population of 670,053, an increase of 6,392 (0.96%) from 2005 and 43,121 (6.9%) from 2000. In 2000 Alaska ranked 48th out of 50 states by population.<ref>http://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-American|German]] (16.6%), Alaska Native or American Indian (15.6%), [[Ireland|Irish]] (10.8%), [[British American|British]] (9.6%), [[United States|American]] (5.7%), and [[Norwegian American|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 American|Filipino]] population. Most of the state's black population lives in Anchorage. Fairbanks also has a sizable black population.

===Languages===
[[Image:Russian_Orthodox_Church.jpg|180px|thumb|right|Russian Orthodox church in Sitka, Alaska.]]
According to the [[2000 U.S. Census]], 85.7% of Alaska residents aged 5 and older speak [[English language|English]] at home. The next most common languages are [[Spanish language|Spanish]] (2.88%), [[Yupik language|Yupik]] (2.87%), [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] (1.54%), and [[Inupiaq language|Iñupiaq]] (1.06%).<ref>http://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 of the Americas|indigenous languages]], known locally as Native languages.

===Religion===
[[Image:Attu_Ak_RussianOrthodoxChurch.jpg|250px|left|Early Russian Orthodox church at Attu Village, Alaska.]]
Alaska has been identified, along with Pacific Northwest states Washington and Oregon, as being the least religious in the US.<ref>http://www.adherents.com/Na/Na_472.html</ref> According to statistics collected by the Association of Religion Data Archives, only about 39% of Alaska residents were members of religious congregations. Evangelical Protestants had 78,070 members, Roman Catholics had 54,359, and mainline Protestants had 37,156.<ref name = ARDA/> After Catholics, the largest single denominations were Southern Baptists with 22, 959, Orthodox with 20,000, and Mormons with 19,019. <ref name = ARDA>{{cite web | title = Religious Affiliations 2000 | work = Alaska State Membership Report | publisher = Association of Religion Data Archives | url = http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/reports/state/02_2000.asp | accessdate = 2007-12-27 }}</ref> The large Eastern Orthodox population is a result of early [[Russian Alaska|Russian colonization]] and [[missionary]] work among Alaska Natives.<ref>http://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. With the marriage of Alaskan Natives to these Russians, and the speaking of their native tongues, these Russian immigrants were more accepted.</ref> And, gradually more and more Russian Orthodox churches<ref>http://vilda.alaska.edu/u?/cdmg11,4904 An early Russian Orthodox Church</ref> became established within Alaska. Alaska also has the largest Quaker population (by percentage) of any state.<ref>http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/maps/map.asp?state=101&variable=201 Association of Religion Data Archive</ref> In 2003 there were three thousand [[Judaism|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==
[[Image:Alaska Pipeline Closeup Underneath.jpg|thumb|200px|The [[Trans-Alaska Pipeline]] transports oil, Alaska's most important export, from the [[North Slope, Alaska|North Slope]] to [[Valdez, Alaska|Valdez]]]]
The 2005 [[gross state product]] was $39.9 billion. Its per-capita GSP for 2005 was $60,079, [[List of U.S. states by GDP per capita (nominal)|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.

Alaska's economy is heavily dependent on increasingly expensive [[diesel]] fuel for [[furnace|heating]], [[transportation]], [[electric power]] and light. Though [[wind power|wind]] and [[hydroelectric power]] are abundant and underutilized, proposals for state-wide energy systems (e.g. with special [[SWGR#Use in Interties|low-cost electric interties]]) were judged uneconomical (at the time of the report, 2001) due to low (<$0.50/Gal) fuel prices, long distances and low population.<ref>[http://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===
The [[Alaska Permanent Fund]] is a legislatively-controlled appropriation established in 1976 to manage a surplus in state petroleum revenues from the recently constructed [[Trans-Alaska Pipeline System]]. From its initial principal of $734,000, the fund has grown to $38 billion as a result of oil royalties and capital investment programs. Starting in 1982, dividends from the fund's annual growth have been paid out each year to eligible Alaskans, ranging from $331.29 in 1984 to $1963.86 in 2000.<ref>http://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, Alaska|Anchorage]] and to a lesser extent in [[Fairbanks, Alaska|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===
Alaska has the lowest individual tax burden in the US<ref>CNN Money (2005). How tax friendly is your state? Retrieved from http://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 [http://www.tax.state.ak.us/ 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 [[bed and breakfast|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.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} [[Fairbanks, Alaska|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).{{Fact|date=February 2007}}

==Transportation==
===Roads===
[[Image:Sewardhighway.jpg|[[Sterling Highway]]|thumb|250px]]
{{see also|List of Alaska Routes}}
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, Alaska|Whittier]]. At nearly {{convert|2.5|mi|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 (Boston, Massachusetts)|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, Alaska|Seward]] through [[Anchorage, Alaska|Anchorage]], [[Denali]], and [[Fairbanks, Alaska|Fairbanks]] to [[North Pole, Alaska|North Pole]], with spurs to [[Whittier, Alaska|Whittier]] and [[Palmer, Alaska|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 was one of the last railroads in North America to use [[caboose]]s in regular service and still uses them on certain gravel trains, and it offers one of the last flag stop routes in the country. A stretch of about {{convert|60|mi|km}} 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 [[Alaska Panhandle|Southeast]] and the [[Alaska Peninsula]]. The system also operates a ferry service from [[Bellingham, Washington|Bellingham]], [[Washington]] via the [[Inside Passage]] to [[Skagway, Alaska|Skagway]]. The [[Inter-Island Ferry Authority]] also serves as an important marine link for many communities in the [[Prince of Wales Island (Alaska)|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===
[[Image:7377SEA618AS 01.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Alaska Airlines]] [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-700]]]]
Cities not served by road or sea can be reached only by air, accounting for Alaska's extremely well-developed [[Alaskan Bush|Bush]] air services&mdash;an Alaskan novelty. Anchorage itself, and to a lesser extent Fairbanks, are serviced by [[Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport#Airlines and destinations|many major airlines]]. Air travel is the cheapest and most efficient form of transportation in and out of the state. Anchorage recently completed extensive remodeling and construction at [[Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport]] to help accommodate the upsurge in tourism (in 2000-2001, the latest year for which data is available, 2.4 million total arrivals to Alaska were counted, 1.7 million via air travel; 1.4 million were visitors<ref>State of Alaska Office of Economic Development. ''[http://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. ''[http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/oed/toubus/pub/AVSPWinterArrival111402.pdf Alaska Visitor Arrivals and Profile-Fall/Winter 2001]''. November, 2002; retrieved [[September 11]], [[2006]].</ref>).

Regular flights to most villages and towns within the state are commercially challenging to provide. [[Alaska Airlines]] is the only major airline offering in-state travel with jet service (sometimes in combination cargo and passenger [[Boeing 737]]-400s) from Anchorage and Fairbanks to regional hubs like [[Bethel, Alaska|Bethel]], [[Nome, Alaska|Nome]], [[Kotzebue, Alaska|Kotzebue]], [[Dillingham, Alaska|Dillingham]], [[Kodiak, Alaska|Kodiak]], and other larger communities as well as to major Southeast and Alaska Peninsula communities. The bulk of remaining commercial flight offerings come from small regional commuter airlines such as [[Era Aviation]], [[PenAir]], and [[Frontier Flying Service]]. The smallest towns and villages must rely on scheduled or chartered Bush flying services using general aviation aircraft such as the [[Cessna Caravan]], the most popular aircraft in use in the state. Much of this service can be attributed to the Alaska bypass mail program which subsidizes [[bulk mail]] delivery to Alaskan rural communities. The program requires 70% of that subsidy to go to carriers who offer passenger service to the communities. Perhaps the most quintessentially Alaskan plane is the Bush seaplane. The world's busiest seaplane base is [[Lake Hood Seaplane Base|Lake Hood]], located next to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, where flights bound for remote villages without an airstrip carry passengers, cargo, and lots of items from stores and warehouse clubs. Alaska has the highest number of pilots per capita of any U.S. state: out of the estimated 663,661 residents, 8,550 are pilots, or about one in 78.<ref>Federal Aviation Administration. ''[http://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&nbsp;km) trail from Anchorage to Nome. The race commemorates the famous [[1925 serum run to Nome]] in which mushers and dogs like [[Togo (dog)|Togo]] and [[Balto]] took much-needed medicine to the [[diphtheria]]-stricken community of [[Nome, Alaska|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|Government of Alaska}}
===Political leanings===
Alaska is often described as a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]-leaning state with strong [[Libertarianism|Libertarian]] tendencies. In presidential elections, the state's [[electoral college]] votes have been almost always won by a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee. Only once has Alaska supported a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee, when it supported [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] in the landslide year of [[U.S. presidential election, 1964|1964]], although the [[U.S. presidential election, 1960|1960]] and [[U.S. presidential election, 1968|1968]] elections were close. No state has voted for a Democratic presidential candidate fewer times. President [[George W. Bush]] won the state's electoral votes in [[U.S. presidential election, 2004|2004]] by a margin of 25 percentage points with 61.1% of the vote. The city of Juneau and Midtown Anchorage are strongholds of the Democratic party. Matanuska-Susitna Borough and South Anchorage typically have the strongest Republican showing. As of 2004, well over half of all registered voters choose "Non-Partisan" or "Undeclared" as their affiliation <ref>http://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|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 [[Walter Joseph Hickel|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.

Alaska's court system has four levels: the [[Alaska Supreme Court]], the court of appeals, the superior courts and the district courts.<ref name="cts">http://www.state.ak.us/courts/ctinfo.htm</ref> The superior and district courts are [[trial court]]s. 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 court]]s. 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 Native]]s, while organized in and around their communities, are often active within the [[Alaska Native Regional Corporations|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===
[[Image:Ted Stevens.jpg|U.S. Senator [[Ted Stevens]]|thumb|160px]]
Alaska's members of the [[Congress of the United States|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 [[United States Senate|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. House of Representatives|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==
{{seealso|List of cities in Alaska by population|Alaska locations by per capita income}}
Alaska's most populous city is [[Anchorage, Alaska|Anchorage]], home to 260,283 people in 2000, 225,744 of whom live in the urbanized area. The richest [[Alaska locations by per capita income|location in Alaska by per capita income]] is [[Halibut Cove, Alaska|Halibut Cove]] ($89,895). Sitka, Juneau, and Anchorage are the three [[List of U.S. cities by area|largest cities in the U.S. by area]].

Also notable is the rapid growth of towns in the [[Mat-Su Valley]]. [[Wasilla, Alaska|Wasilla]] and [[Palmer, Alaska|Palmer]] are projected to experience over 100% population growth between 2000 and 2010.{{Fact|date=April 2007}}

[[Image:Anchorage1.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Anchorage, Alaska|Anchorage]] is the largest city in Alaska.]]

{|
| colspan="5" | '''Cities of 100,000 or more people'''
*[[Anchorage, Alaska|Anchorage]]
|-
| colspan="5" | '''Towns of 10,000-100,000 people'''
*[[Fairbanks, Alaska|Fairbanks]]
*[[Juneau, Alaska|Juneau]]
|-
| colspan="5" | '''Towns of 1,000-10,000 people'''
|-
| valign="top" |
*[[Ketchikan, Alaska|Ketchikan]]
*[[Sitka, Alaska|Sitka]]
*[[Wasilla, Alaska|Wasilla]]
*[[Kenai, Alaska|Kenai]]
*[[Kodiak, Alaska|Kodiak]]
*[[Palmer, Alaska|Palmer]]
*[[Bethel, Alaska|Bethel]]
*[[Barrow, Alaska|Barrow]]
| width="50px" | &nbsp;
| valign="top" |
*[[Unalaska, Alaska|Unalaska]]
*[[Valdez, Alaska|Valdez]]
*[[Soldotna, Alaska|Soldotna]]
*[[Homer, Alaska|Homer]]
*[[Nome, Alaska|Nome]]
*[[Petersburg, Alaska|Petersburg]]
*[[Kotzebue, Alaska|Kotzebue]]
*[[Seward, Alaska|Seward]]
| width="50px" | &nbsp;
| valign="top" |
*[[Dillingham, Alaska|Dillingham]]
*[[Cordova, Alaska|Cordova]]
*[[Wrangell, Alaska|Haines]]
*[[North Pole, Alaska|North Pole]]
*[[Hooper Bay, Alaska|Hooper Bay]]
*[[Craig, Alaska|Craig]]
*[[Houston, Alaska|Houston]]
|-
| colspan="5" | '''Smaller towns'''
Alaska has many smaller towns, especially in the [[Alaska Bush]], the portion of the state that is inaccessible by road.
|-
|}

==Education==
The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development administers many [[List of school districts in Alaska|school district]]s in Alaska. In addition, the state operates several boarding schools, including [[Mt. Edgecumbe High School]] in [[Sitka, Alaska|Sitka]], [[Nenana Student Living Center]] in [[Nenana, Alaska|Nenana]], and [[Galena High School]] in [[Galena, Alaska|Galena]].<ref>http://www.alaskaice.org/material.php?matID=138</ref>

There are more than a dozen [[List of colleges and universities in Alaska|colleges and universities in Alaska]]. Accredited universities in Alaska include the [[University of Alaska Anchorage]], [[University of Alaska Fairbanks]], [[University of Alaska Southeast]], [[Sheldon Jackson College]] and [[Alaska Pacific University]].<ref>These are the only three universities in the state ranked by [[US News and World Report]].[http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/rankindex_brief.php]</ref> 43% of the population attends or attended college.{{Fact|date=April 2007}}

==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.

Alaska has also had a problem with "[[brain drain]]" as many of its young people, including most of the highest academic achievers, leave the state upon graduating high school. While for many this functions as a sort of [[walkabout]], many do not return to the state. The [[University of Alaska]] has been successfully combating this by offering partial four-year scholarships to the top 10% of Alaska high school graduates, via the Alaska Scholars Program[http://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]]''
{{Expand|date=April 2007}}
Some of Alaska's popular annual events are the World Ice Art Championships in [[Fairbanks, Alaska|Fairbanks]], the Alaska Hummingbird Festival in [[Ketchikan, Alaska|Ketchikan]], the [[Sitka Whale Fest]], and the Stikine River Garnet Fest in [[Wrangell, Alaska|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 [[Dall sheep|sheep]] is still fairly common in the state, particularly in remote [[Bush Alaska|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|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 (musician)|Jewel]], traditional Aleut [[flute|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 [[List of U.S. state songs|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 [[Academy Awards|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.
* '''State flower:''' wild/native [[Forget-me-not|Forget-Me-Not]], adopted by the Territorial Legislature in 1917.<ref>http://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:''' [[Mushing|Dog Mushing]], adopted 1972.
* '''State tree:''' [[Sitka Spruce]], adopted 1962.

==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]].
* [[Alaska Territorial Guard]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks|Alaska}}
<!-- Please do not add commercial links to this section - they will be removed, as per the external links policy. Thank you. -->
*[http://www.alaska.gov/ State of Alaska website]
*[http://www.alcnet.org/projects/overview/alaska Alaska], project area of the [http://www.alcnet.org American Land Conservancy]
*[http://www.aitc.org/Intrnl.Declaration.htm Alaska Inter-Tribal Council]
*[http://www.usgs.gov/state/state.asp?State=AK USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Alaska]
*[http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/02000.html US Census Bureau]
*[http://www.ers.usda.gov/statefacts/ak.htm Alaska State Facts]
*[http://www.dced.state.ak.us/dca/commdb/CF_COMDB.htm Alaska Community Database System]
*[http://www.alaskareport.com/ Alaska news website]

{{succession
| preceded = [[Arizona]]
| office = [[List of U.S. states by date of statehood]]
| years = Admitted on [[January 3]], [[1959]] (49th)
| succeeded = [[Hawaii]]
}}

{{Alaska}}
{{United States}}

{{coor title d|64|N|153|W|region:US-AK_type:state_scale:10000000}}

[[Category:States of the United States]]
[[Category:1959 establishments]]
[[Category:Alaska| ]]
[[Category:Arctic Ocean]]
[[Category:Exclaves]]

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