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Researched by Amanda J.
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Basic Definition
Alaska is located on the northwest corner of the U.S. It is not one of the 48 states that touch each other. The name Alaska came from the Alabaskin Indians.
Size
Alaska is the biggest state in the U.S.A. Most people think Texas is the biggest but Alaska is. It is twice the size of Texas. It is also 1/5th of the rest of the U.S.A. Alaska has the highest mountain in North America, Mt.Denali, which stands 20,320 feet from its base. There are also 10 other mountains like Mount Elias: 18,008 feet, Foraker: 17,400 feet, Bonanza: 16,500 feet, Blackburn: 16,390 feet, Sanford: 16,237 feet, Vancouver: 15,700 feet, Churchhill: 15,638 feet, Fairweather: 15,300 feet, Hubbard 15,015 feet, and Bear:14,813 feet. The three biggest islands are Kodiak - 3,588 square miles , Prince of Wales ?2,770 square miles and Chichagof ? 2,062 square miles. Alaska has 6,640 miles of coastline, including islands, 33,904 miles of shoreline.
State Song
"Alaska’s state song is Eight stars of gold on a field of blue-Alaska’s
flag.
May it mean to you the blue of the sea, the evening sky, the mountain
lakes, and the flow’rs nearby.
The gold of the early sourdoughs dreams the precious gold of the hills
and stream the brilliant stars in the northern sky.
The "bear" ? the "dipper"- and shining high.
The great North Star with it’s steady light over land and sea a beacon
bright. Alaska’s flag ? to Alaskans dear.
The simple flag of the last frontier."
History
Alaska’s history is all about the Native Indian tribes. They depended on the Alaska salmon to survive. They would return the salon bones to the water they believed that the salmonpeople were reborn from the bones of the unlucky salmon that did not survive. If they did not respect Alaska’s salmonpeople they would not use Alaska as part of their territory.
State Info
Bird: Willow Ptarmigan
Mammal: moose
Flower: forget-me-not
Nickname: The Great Land or Land Of The Midnight Sun
Motto: North to the future
Tree: Sitka Spruce
Marine Mammal: Bowhead Whale
Fish: King salmon
Sport: Dog Mushing
Gem: Jade
Mineral: Gold
Insect: Four Spot Skimmer Dragonfly
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