Alaska

Alaska State in nw North America, separated from the rest of continental USA by the province of British Columbia, Canada, and from Russia by the Bering Strait. The capital is Juneau. The largest city is Anchorage on the s coast. The USA purchased Alaska for US$7.2 million from Russia (1867). Fishing drew settlers and, after the gold rush of the 1890s, the population doubled within a decade. It became the 49th state of the Union in 1959. About 25% lies inside the Arctic Circle. The main Alaska Range includes Mount McKinley, the highest peak in North America. The chief river is the Yukon. The Alaskan economy is based on fish, natural gas, timber, quartz and, primarily, oil. The national parks encourage tourism. Because of its strategic position and oil reserves, Alaska developed as a military area and is linked to the rest of the USA by the 2450km (1500mi) Alaska Highway. Although by far the largest US state, it has the third smallest population (after Wyoming and Vermont). Of the total state population (2000), 98,043 are Native Americans (mainly Inuit-Aleut). Area: 1,530,700sq km (591,004sq mi). Pop. (2000) 626,932.

Statehood :	January 3, 1959
Nickname :	The Last Frontier
State bird :	Willow ptarmigan
State flower :	Forget-me-not
State tree :	Sitka spruce
State motto :	North to the future

http://www.state.ak.us