Alaska
Geography
John Muir best described Alaska through one of his greatest quotes, “To the lover of wilderness, Alaska is one of the most wonderful countries in the world.” Alaska is a beautiful place to live and everyone should get to see this place. Alaska has many mountains, volcanoes, and is cold all around. Alaska has many features, all making up the six beautiful land regions this state has. With lovely views and Alaska’s land, Alaska is a wonderful place everyone needs to see.
Basic
Facts
Alaska is located in the northwestern region of the United States. There are no bordering states of Alaska. Canada is to the east of Alaska while the Arctic Ocean is north of Alaska. The Bering Sea is located southwest of Alaska. As for its size, Alaska covers 663,297 square miles, making it the largest state. The length of Alaska from north to south stretches the length of Maine all the way down to the south tip of Florida.
Alaska’s climate is polar in the north and sub-polar in the south. Alaska has high winds in some areas , while low winds in other areas . In the summer, Alaska is warm and sometimes a little hot. In the winter, Alaska is very cold and windy. The average high climate temperature in Alaska is 60℉ while the average low is -10℉. The highest temperature ever recorded was 100℉ at Fort Yukon on June 27, 1915. The lowest temperature ever recorded was -80℉ at Prospect Creek on January 23, 1971. The yearly rainfall in Alaska is 10 inches.
North Slope
The North Slope is entirely surrounded by the Arctic Circle. This region is commonly called the Land of the Midnight Sun because the sun will rise on May 10 and not set until August 2. That is 84 days later. The largest city in the North Slope is Barrow. In the summer, ice blankets melt and berries are able to grow. The North Slope is a very nice place to live.
Interior
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The Interior is the largest region in Alaska. This region is full of gently rolling hills and the tallest mountain in North America, standing at 20,320 ft. That is almost 4 miles. McKinley is named after William McKinley, our 25th president. This Mountain has now reverted back to its original name, Denali, meaning great one. The Interior also has part of the 3rd longest river in the United States running through it: Yukon. Yukon is 1,265 ft long and runs through the Interior of Alaska. The Interior is a very wild place!
Western Alaska
Western Alaska reaches out to the Bering Sea. The Bering Sea is southwest of this region. Western Alaska has many islands and lots of volcanic activity. One of the many islands this region includes is Kodiak Island. Kodiak Island is the second largest island after Hawaii. Western Alaska has Mount Pavlov, a volcano that has erupted more than 40 times since 1970. This region also has thousands of lakes, some so small that they don’t have a name. Overall, Western Alaska is a very adventurous place.
Conclusion
Considering Alaska’s lovely sights and beautiful mountains, Alaska is a wonderful place to visit. People come to visit to feel the cold and drink the hot chocolate, while others come to explore the sights to see. The United States is such a lovely place with amazing wildlife. The world around us is filled with many places to go and new sights to see everyday. It only takes a moment to make memories that will last a lifetime. Take your time for you only live once.