Well, here are a few of the things you will find interesting about ALASKA. Including some links to other places on the web that has info about Alaska. There are a lot of different things to do and see in Alaska. So to start here are a few of them. Try the drink called the "Sour Toe" if you dare! Then sit there and watch the sun (go down or watch it stay up) ha ha, when it does go down then stare at the NORTHERN LIGHTS.
ANCHORAGE: The largest city in Alaska, Anchorage has a population of 254,000 people. There is a lot of things to do in Anchorage. Anchorage has 19hrs and 21 minutes of daylight in summer, 5 hrs and 28 minutes in winter.
FAIRBANKS: Fairbanks is the next largest city with a population of 31,633 people; with the Fairbanks North Star Borough having another 82,435 people. Fairbanks has 22 hours of daylight at the soltice, in winter there are aproximately 4:42 hours of daylight..
JUNEAU: The third largest is Juneau with a population of approx. 30,000 people. Juneau has 18:18 hrs of daylight in summer and 6:21 hrs of daylight in winter. This is also the capital of Alaska. The Mendenhall Glacier is situated in Juneau (about 12 mile from downtown) you can land on the glacier or go rafting on the river. The Alaska State Museum is here. There is also a mining museum here.
KETCHIKAN: The fourth largest is Ketchikan with a population of 8,279 people. Ketchikan has 17:29 hrs of daylight in summer and in winter has 7:06 hrs of daylight. Ketchikan is a city of S. E. Alaska, the first city you come to if you come to Alaska by ferry or when you fly into Alaska from the lower 48. Ketchikan is known as the gateway to the North. This is the first port of call for the cruise ships and AK State Ferries. Ketchikans main industry is fishing and tourism. We are in the middle of a rain forest one of the few rain forests in the northern hemisphere. Some of the things to see in Ketchikan are the Misty Fjords, and Glacier Bay. There are also tours of the cannerys. Also dont miss Dolly's House or Married Mans Trail ( married men used to use this path to go to Dollys house for pleasure) LMAO!! There are clan houses at both ends of the town one located in Saxman Tribal Village (Tlingit) and the other located at Totem Bight. With totem poles at both places. Stroll down creek street the "red light" district of Ketchikan. During the summer there are fishing contests: one being the King Salmon Derby, which is a lot of fun, one year I caught a 40 lb King and a 80 lb halibut. I love to fish and go fishing when ever I am not working.
HAINES: Haines has some of the prettiest area around and also has the largest population of the American Bald Eagle anywhere in the USA (an eagle can see a fish in the water up to a half a mile away in the water). Haines is surrounded by mountains, valleys, tundra, and muskeg (muskegs are bogs where little grow except for sphagnum moss, black spruce, Sitka spruce, dwarf birch, tussocks and a few other shrubbery type plants. Muskeg covers much of Alaska.
SKAGWAY: Skagway has one of the best things in Alaska to see and do the WP&YR railroad, if you ever get a chance to take a ride on the railroad go on this one it is very very interesting ride. More than likely you will see moose, elk, bear, and more. The railroad was built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush. It was built through soem of the most beautiful terrain of Alaska. Its fondly callled "The Railway Built of Gold". The trip is about 3 hours both ways. For more information about the WP&YR Railroad.
PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND: Tour the EL CAPITAN CAVE which was just found in the last few years.
WRANGELL: Wrangell is located near the mouth of the Stikine River. Wrangell is the only Alaskan town to have flown both the Russian and British Flags before becoming a U.S. Territory. Wrangell has a couple glaciers to explore the LE CONTE and the SHAKES. There is a Tlingit clan house here in Wrangell and Totem poles on Shakes Island. Take a look at the rock carvings on Petroglyph Beach, the garnets from Garnet beach.
PETERSBURG: Petersburg located in the heart of the Tongass National Forest, this town is known as "Little Norway".
SITKA: Sitka is the place where the USA formally took possetion of Alaska from Russia on October 18, 1867. While visiting here go to St. Micheal's Cathedral. Sitka's Russian heritage shows thru in their festivals during the summer. Sitka has a self-guided tour that takes you thru the rainforest with a few ancient totem poles.
