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Alaska is the largest state in the United Sates. It is almost a fifth as large as all the rest of the United States, and more than twice the size of Texas, the second largest state. But Alaska has fewer people than any other state. Juneau is Alaska’s capital. However, Alaskans have begun steps to move the capital from Juneau to Willow, near Anchorage. Juneau covers 3,108 square miles (8,050 square kilometers) and ranks as the nation’s largest city in area. Anchorage is the most heavily populated city in Alaska.

When Alaska entered the Union in 1959, it was the first new state in 47 years. About 500 miles (800 kilometers) of Canadian territory separate Alaska from Washington. Alaskans often refer to the rest of the continental United States as the “lover 48”. The Alaskan mainland’s most western point is only 51 miles (82 kilometers) from Russia. Alaska Little Diomede Island, in the Bering Strait, is about 2,5 miles (4 kilometers) from Russia’s Big Diomede Island. No other part of North America is closer to Asia.

Almost a third of Alaska is north of the Arctic Circle. The climate and soil as far north as the Arctic Circle permit farmers to raise livestock and grow barley, potatoes, and other crops. The summer sun shines about 20 hours a day, and crops grow rapidly.

Secretary of State William H. Seward bought Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7,200,000– only about 2 cents per acre. Many Americans thought the region was the waste of ice and snow. But Alaska proved to be rich in fish, minerals, timber, and potential water power. The potential of resources taken from the region has paid back the purchase price hundreds of times. Huge oil reserves at Prudhoe Bay along the Arctic coast rank as Alaska’s chief source of wealth.

Alaska is famous for tall mountains and beautiful scenery. Mount McKinley is the highest peak in the United States. Alaska also has the 13 next highest peaks and almost all the active volcanoes in the United States.