ALASKA covers 570,373 square miles of land, and an additional 45,000 square miles of water. It's the biggest state in the country and is 1/5 the mass of the continental U.S. ALASKA is 2.3 times the size of Texas, 10 times the size of Georgia or Florida; and 499.7 times the size of Rhode Island. ALASKA has 33,904 miles of coastline, more than the rest of the United States combined ALASKA has 1/2 the worlds glaciers. We really enjoy exploring Alaska in our motor home. Getting out on what little paved road Alaska has, and not having to drive more than an hour or so, to find this kind of grandeur is a simple pleasure. And all we are out is a little gas, a little time, what ever it takes to feed us while we go for this little drive. After taking some pictures, we can go to the dining table of our RV, make some lunch, (from scratch, sandwiches & hot soup), while looking at this beautiful scene through the dining area window, then drive on to witness more of Alaska's seasonal surprises, year after year.
Did you know:
Alaska is not only the most Northern part of the United States, and the most western, but also the most eastern state? That is because the Aleutian Islands, (SW Alaska extending in an arc 1700 miles [ 2735 kilometers] SW & W from the Alaska Peninsula) extend over the international date line. This makes Alaska, the only part of the United States, that extends into the Eastern hemisphere.
"Aurora Borealis" or the "Northern Lights" in Alaska
While looking around ShopALASKAfromHome, keep in mind, the U.S. Post Office has given Alaska the 2-letter abbreviation of AK, and the use of a state's 2-letter abbreviation is probably more common here in everyday written communication than in most other U.S. states. AK is a common abbreviation for folks that live at the
"Top Of the World."
Sunrise/Sunset & Temp Information for various Alaskan locations
Barrow is located on the far Northern coast of Alaska. When they look out to sea, the are looking at the North pole. If Sunrise is not listed (winter) then the sun is NOT coming up today!
If Sunset is not listed (summer) then the sun is NOT going down today!
If the moon rise or moon set time has an error message next to it, Barrow is so far NORTH that the moon is not coming tonight!
Fairbanks is located about in the middle of Alaska
Ketchikan is located at the most southerly tip of the Alaska Panhandle, in the Alexander Archipelago (group of islands).
Yes, we Alaskans enjoy going on the same
tour boat trips, visitors to Alaska, enjoy so much.
When visiting Alaska, please keep in mind,
ALASKA IS NOT A THEME PARK
In ALASKA there are NO safety fences, this is the REAL wild. If you aren't paying attention to your surroundings, you could be injured or even killed, just by being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Keep your eyes open and on the horizon to see what is watching you.
We were visited (at our home/in our yard) by bears twice the summer of 2006, and the reason I know, is because I found bear scat on my back yard lawn. Summer time bear scat usually has pink scraps of salmon mixed in and looks like a very large dog has visited you.
Note: Over 1,000 moose call Anchorage home as do 5 packs of wolves, 80 black and 60 brown bear!
In Alaska we use the phrase termination dust when we see the first snow on top of the mountains that surround us. Termination dust just means the snow is about to terminate our summer.
Wide angle photo Zoomed in look of the same peaks
When it snows, at our house, we tell our (then) 3 year old nephew “We better get our (snow) shovels and clean off the driveway”.
Early October, back in 2006, I drove that nephew down to Soldotna, Alaska for the weekend and on the drive back to Anchorage, I pointed out the termination dust, on the surrounding mountains. He said, “Oh NO, uncle Jerry, we had better get our shovels, and clean off those mountains!”
The way the mind of a 3-year-old works is always entertaining.
Now, you have the chance to shop for Alaskan Souvenirs, anytime.
Shop for yourself, or to give as a gift, right from home, with the ease and convenience of the internet.
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