10 Surprising Facts About Alaska

#10: The Alaska Purchase

Back in 1867, the U.S. purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million—about 2 cents per acre. The deal was questioned by many. While plenty of newspapers supported it, others berated President Andrew Johnson, calling Alaska names like “Johnson’s Polar Bear Garden” and “Walrussia.” It became more commonly known as “Seward’s Folly” or “Seward’s Icebox,” with critics seeing the land as a useless, barren wasteland. Those in favor, however, were ultimately proven right. The Klondike Gold Rush in 1896 marked a massive turning point. In 1959, Alaska officially became a U.S. state, and the purchase came to be widely regarded as one of the best bargains the nation ever made.

#9: Resident Rewards

How would it sound to get paid to live somewhere? Well, in Alaska, that’s actually a thing! Launched in 1976, the Alaska Permanent Fund has paid out an average of over $1,000 per year to its residents. That can go a long way! The funds come from a share of oil revenues and vary by year based on investment returns. 2022 marked a high with a dividend of $3,284 per resident—not too shabby! A form of universal basic income like this is rare. Studies have found it’s had a significant influence on reducing the poverty rate in Alaska, particularly among Indigenous communities.

#8: “The Town Under One Roof”

Whittier, Alaska has such a small population that nearly all of its residents live in the same building: the Begich Towers. Not only that, but the building also houses a post office, police station, grocery store, health clinic, and more. That’s why Whittier earned the nickname, “town under one roof.” Even the school is connected by a tunnel. The town has an infamously wet climate, so not having to go outside can be beneficial. It’s not for everyone, but the set-up certainly fosters a close-knit community. With its stunning glaciers and marine wildlife, Whittier is a popular destination for tourists and photographers, who—guess what?—can stay at the bed and breakfast on the top two floors of the Begich Towers. Yeah, it has that too.

#7: No Roads to the Capital

Juneau, Alaska is known for many things—a vibrant performing arts scene, signature cultural festivals, breathtaking natural wonders, and fun outdoor activities, just to name a few. For most cities with these kinds of attractions, it’d be worth a drive. In this case, though, that’s not possible. There are no roads connected to the capital city—none. Like many other cities and towns in the unique state of Alaska, Juneau is isolated. Even so, many would argue that it has such a distinctive appeal that it’s worth a visit, whether by plane, cruise, or ferry.

#6: Utqiagvik’s Midnight Sun & Polar Night

Utqiagvik, once known as Barrow, is the northernmost town in the United States. With that comes peculiarities that most people could hardly imagine. From May to August, the sun stays above the horizon nonstop, meaning there’s constant daylight and, at midnight, residents experience the marvel of the midnight sun. Conversely, there’s a period of more than 60 days from mid-November to mid-January when residents of Utqiagvik don’t see the sun at all. This is known as polar night. The day the sun finally returns, locals celebrate with music and dancing. For those of us used to the sun rising and setting every day, Utqiagvik serves as a reminder of how fascinatingly different life can be elsewhere.

#5: Unexplained Disappearances in the Alaska Triangle

Most have heard of the Bermuda Triangle. But have you heard of the Alaska Triangle? That’s right—Alaska has its own mysterious area with a dark history of inexplicable disappearances. The three points are Anchorage and Juneau in the south and Utqiagvik in the north. The massive expanse is full of rugged terrain and harsh weather. While dangerous, it’s still hard to believe that an estimate of over 20,000 people have reportedly disappeared in the Alaska Triangle since the 1970s. One of the most infamous examples was in 1972, when four men, including U.S. House Majority Leader Hale Boggs and Alaska Representative Nick Begich Sr., went missing on a flight from Anchorage to Juneau. No trace was ever found.

#4: Most Earthquake-Prone State in the U.S.

No U.S. state is more prone to earthquakes than Alaska. And it’s not particularly close either. Alaska commonly experiences tens of earthquakes a day and thousands of earthquakes a year, with hundreds per year reaching at least magnitude 4. The stronger, highly hazardous earthquakes—we’re talking magnitude 8 and above—are also far more likely to occur in Alaska than almost anywhere else on Earth. In fact, the largest earthquake ever recorded in the U.S. and the second-largest in the entire world—with a 9.2 magnitude—occurred in Alaska in 1964.

#3: Home to About 80% of Recently Active Volcanoes in the U.S.

Most of Alaska's volcanoes are located on the Aleutian Arc, which is part of the most volcanically active zone in the world: the Pacific Ring of Fire. Volcanologists usually consider a volcano ‘active’ if it’s erupted sometime in the last 11,000 years or so. By that definition, Alaska has about 90 of them—more than half of all volcanoes in the U.S. that fit that criteria. If we narrow it down to more recent history, meaning volcanoes that have erupted within the past few hundred years, over 50 of those are in Alaska. That’s around 80% of the entire country’s recently active volcanoes. And they haven’t just been small eruptions. The largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century happened there.

#2: Glaciers Galore

Glaciers make up about three to five percent of the state of Alaska, according to recent estimates. If that figure doesn’t sound that crazy, think about it this way: Estimates of Alaska's glacier coverage range from 23,000 to 29,000 square miles. That’s about the size of the entire state of West Virginia! However, that number has been declining due to glacier melting. Fortunately, there are plenty of accessible ways to enjoy breathtaking views of these natural wonders. Around 4.6 million acres of Alaska’s glaciers are within national parks. It really is glaciers galore.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Famous for Monstrous Record-Breaking Vegetables

Snake-Free State

Against the Law to Wake up a Bear for a Photo

Easternmost & Westernmost State in the United States

No Poison Ivy or Poison Oak

#1: Size & Coastline

Alaska is absolutely massive—so enormous that it’s more than twice the size of the second-largest U.S. state. There are less than 20 countries in the world that are bigger than it! Want us to keep going? With its numerous islands, Alaska’s total coastline measures longer than all the other U.S. states combined! With barely over one person per square mile, though, Alaska is by far and away the least densely populated state in the country. Also, its male-to-female ratio happens to be the highest of any U.S. state. But, anyway, the big takeaway here that earns the top spot on our list is that Alaska is gigantic—more so than most people probably realize.

What do you find most interesting about Alaska? Let us know in the comments below!