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Grizzlies, Black bears, elk and glaciers, Alaska is a paradise for nature lovers. It is the largest state in the USA, covering 1.7 Million square kilometres, and about one fifth of the total area of the country.
It is situated a bit isolated from the other states and virtually only borders another country to the East: Canada. All in all only 660,000 people live here.
Alaska’s national parks, which one can reach most easily and comfortably using a rental car, compete with each other for beauty. The movie Forrest Gump directly comes to mind when seeing the mountains reflect in the crystal-clear waters of Reflection Pond in the Denali National Park. Forrest himself put it this way: “The country looked like there are two heavens”. This national park is situated in Central Alaska and was founded in 1917. It encompasses about 24,000 square kilometers. The headquarters of the park can be reached through the George-Parks-Highway. It offers fabulous possibilities for hiking and camping.
Another very popular destination is Glacier Bay National Park. You will find this somewhat smaller park –only about 13,000 square kilometres- in the Southeast of Alaska. Glacier Bay, with its breathtaking Fjords, stretches far into the National Park. Make sure to dress warm and water proof: rains are very common in this part of the country. Chances for dry weather are best in the months of April to June. Like many National Parks in Alaska, Glacier Bay National Park can only be reached by plane or boat. These respective starting points can be reached best by car.
In addition to the former two, also the other National Parks including Gates-of-the-Arctic-National Park, Katmai-National Park, Kenai-Fjords-National Park, Wrangell-St. Elias-National Park and Lake-Clark-National Park, are worth going to.
Juneau, Alaska´s capitol, is the only capital that cannot be reached by car. It hosts only about 30,000 inhabitants, and can only be reached by plane or boat.
Anchorage, with its 275,000 inhabitants is by far the largest city in the state, and offers many possibilities for culture lovers: Alaska’s largest Museum – the Anchorage Museum of History and Art – possesses extraordinary collections on its State’s history and original inhabitants. The ongoing exhibition ”Art of the North“ shows the works of many famous artists including the most famous landscapist Sydney Laurence. An entire floor is dedicated to The Alaska Gallery: here one can admire the art of the various local cultures like the Aleut, Eskimos and Tlinglit. In addition, there are many alternating expositions.
Important economic resources in Alaska are its paper- and wood industries, thanks to the enormous quantities of timber. In addition, the mountains are rich sources of gold and copper. Besides, fish is an important supply: especially salmon and cod are important export products.
Alaska is a wonderful and natural state. When going there, one should use all opportunities to enjoy its sceneries and landscapes of pictorial mountains, lakes and forests. This country just invites you to be explored by car, stopping wherever you wish to make a nice holiday picture, enjoy the views or go for a hike. Impressive tours through untouched outdoors make a holiday in Alaska to an experience you´ll never forget.
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