According to ehotelat, Alaska is, in the truest sense of the word, a state of contrasts. Although it is the largest in the United States in terms of area, very few residents live here. In Alaska, there ‘s ubpolares air, through the winters are very long and cold in this area. But this is precisely what makes the state so special, here you can experience beautiful northern nature and enjoy great winter days.
Alaska has quite a few attractions to offer to visitors to the state. The large area is partially covered by important nature reserves and natural monuments, some of which can also be visited. Alaska is home to numerous animal species.

What many people admire about Alaska is the wonderful contrast of the landscape of forests and snow-capped mountains, between which lakes shimmer. If you like to experience nature up close, you have come to the right place in Alaska.

Some places in the state can only be reached by plane, because the distances between the places are so great that a trip on foot or by sledge would take too long and it is not even conceivable to travel by car due to the poor roads is. In addition to airplanes as a means of transport, cruise ships are also very important for Alaska, as they keep coming back to the coastal towns. Numerous tourists come to the country with these ships, many also from Germany.

Not only are the landscapes extremely varied, the population is made up of different ethnic groups. There are several cultures in Alaska that influence each other. The white residents make up the largest proportion of the total population. The Christian faith, especially the Catholic Church but also the Orthodox Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of the Last Days and the Evangelical Church, is the most widespread religion in Alaska.

Alaska – key data

Land area: 1,717,854 square kilometers, more than twice the size of the second largest state in the USA, Texas.

Share of water surface: 13.77%

Population: 0.686 million (2008 estimate, ranked 47th of all US states)

Population density: 0.4 residents per square kilometer, 50th place of all states in the USA

Member of the United States since: January 3, 1959

Languages: English (89.7%), Native North American (5.2%), Spanish (2.9%)

Capital: Juneau (30,690 residents, 2007)

Largest city: Anchorage (280,000 residents, 2007, metropolitan area 360,000 residents)

Highest point: 6,194 m, Mount McKinley (highest point in the USA).

Lowest point: 0 m, Pacific Ocean

Governor: Sean Parnell (Republican)

Lieut. Governor: Craig Campbell (Republican)

Local time: East of W 169 ° 30 ‘(Alaska): CET – 10 h. From the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November: CET – 9 am.
The time difference to Central Europe is both in winter and in summer – 10 h.
West of W 169 ° 30 ‘(Aleutian Islands): CET – 11 h. From the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November: CET – 10 am.
The time difference to Central Europe is both in winter and in summer – 11 h.

Postal abbreviation: AK

Alaska – geography

Alaska is bordered by Canada in the east, the Pacific Gulf of Alaska in the south, the Arctic Ocean in the north and the Bering Sea in the west.

In southwest Alaska extends the Alaska Peninsula, which runs to the Aleutian chain of islands. The mountains of the Aleutian chain rise on the Alaska Peninsula and the Aleutian Islands, the highest point is reached in Mount Redoubt (3,109 m).

The central north of Alaska is dominated by the high Alaska range. Here is the 6,194 m high Mount McKinley, the highest point in North America. The mountain range in the arctic north of Alaska is the Brook range (up to 2,749 m high), while the Wrangell Mountains in the southwestern part reach 4,996 m (Mount Blackburn) and the Elias range 5,489 (Mount Saint Elias).
In the very south-east of Alaska, west of British Columbia (Canada), the narrow strip of islands of the Alaska Panhandle extends into the Pacific. Most of the locations on the panhandle can only be reached by air or by boat. However, in this region lies the capital of Alaska, Juneau.

Large parts of Alaska are characterized by wooded hills, the coast is cut by numerous fjords.

The mountain range on the Pacific coast is geologically unstable, from time to time volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur here.

There are numerous glaciers in southern Alaska, including the largest mountain glacier outside the Poles: the 4,275 km² Malaspina on the coast of the Gulf of Alaska.
The lowlands of the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers extend in central Alaska.
In the north there is a coastal plain that gradually descends from the Brooks range to the Arctic Ocean.

The surface of Alaska is covered by countless lakes. The largest lakes in the state are located on the Alaska Peninsula and the transition between the peninsula and the mainland: Becharof, Iliamna, Naknek and Ugashik.

The most important and largest river in Alaska is the Yukon River. The source of the Yukon lies in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, from here it runs through central Alaska before it reaches the Bering Sea.

Alaska – getting there and traveling in the country

Airplane
The vast majority of international flights to Alaska and almost all domestic flights land at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Alaska Airlines flies direct to Anchorage from Chicago, Seattle and numerous west coast cities. Other airlines also offer direct flights to Alaska, such as Delta from New York and Atlanta, American Airlines from Dallas and St. Louis, and Northwest Airlines from Minneapolis. Alaska Airlines flies to many cities within Alaska to get to remote areas, but small aircraft must be chartered.

Ship
The Alaska Marine Highway connects Bellingham (Washington State) with 14 locations in southeast Alaska. This region is otherwise very difficult to travel, so the ship connection is very popular. Ferries also offer connections to six locations in central southern Alaska, with a passenger ship sailing from Kodiak to Unalaska in the Aleutian Islands and from Whittier to Juneau six times a year.

Train
Trains from Alaska Railroa d run between Seward and Anchorage and between Anchorage, Denali and Fairbanks. The train connections are also quite popular, so booking in advance (especially in the high season) is recommended.

Bus
buses connect all major cities in Alaska with each other and with the other 48 US states. Traveling by bus isn’t much cheaper than flying, but it is a great way to experience the Alaska Highway. Greyhound drives from Seattle via Vancouver to Whitehorse in Canada. From here, Alaska Direct buses run to Anchorage three times a week.

Car
You should set aside at least a week’s driving time to get to Fairbanks via the Alcan Highway from the northern USA via Canada. You should definitely make a few stops on this route to get to know life in the north better. You can of course hire a car on site in Alaska, and prices start at around 45 US dollars per day.