Sunday, 9 June 2013

Interesting Facts And Alaskan History

By Grace Daniels


The largest state in the US is embodied by misconceptions. Alaska became the 49th state in the US on January 3, 1959. It was purchased by the Secretary of State William Seward in 1867 for a measly 7.2 million dollars, which equates to only two cents per acre. It took almost 100 years after its purchase to become added as a state. There are a lot of interesting facts and notable history wrapped up in this previous Russian owned land. This misunderstood land is not just snow, ice and extreme cold temperatures; there is so much more and learning just a little bit of Alaskan history can tame misconceptions.

Remember the 1925 Diptheria outbreak in Nome, where sled dogs traveled over 700 miles in just over five days or how about the Exxon Valdez oil spill where eleven million gallons of crude oil is spilt over fifteen hundred miles of coastline. The largest recordable earthquake in North American and second largest in the world measuring 9.2 magnitude. The first discovery of Alaska was made in 1741 by a Russian expedition led by Vitus Bering and also included George Steller. These are just a few of the things that have taken place in Alaska.

Disasters are not the only thing in the history of Alaska. There are other facts that make it notable. Did you know that it was purchased from Russia for 7.2 million dollars back in 1867 by William Seward, the US Secretary of State. That equates to only two cent per acre. It became the 49th state in the US on January 3, 1959. It became a state almost 100 years after its purchase. It was first discovered in 1741 by a Russian expedition led by Vitus Bering along with George Steller.

Wildlife abounds in Alaska, home to the three United State bears, it is the only place where all three bears can be found. The polar bear is the most noted bear in the group. There are also bugs such as mosquitoes but you do not have to worry because these pest do not carry or transmit any diseased. The aborigines and animals cohabitate the lands and have found a balance that works for everyone and everything involved.

Defined by snow and ice capped peaks, Alaska is home to seventeen out of the twenty highest peaks in the United States with Mt McKinney being the highest in North America. Home to the Mt Spurr volcano, which is the most active eastern volcano and part of a stratovolcano. In 1992 Mt Spurr erupted three different times and in 2009 Mt Redoubt, another volcano, erupted five times.

One of the most beautiful and amazing wonders of this land is the aurora borealis and northern lights. This mesmerizing phenomenon originates from the sun and creates a show of lights when particles collide with the atmospheric gases. It also houses seventeen out of twenty of the highest peaks in the United States. The Mt Spurr volcano is one of several snow and ice covered peaks defining a large dissected stratovolcano. Mt. Spurr is the eastern most historically active volcano and erupted three times in 1992. In 2009 the Mt Redoubt volcano erupted five times.

The native Alaskan aborigines inhabited the lands during the last ice age. The Bering land bridge which spanned 1000 miles wide between Alaska and Siberia allowed people to cross and inhabit the lands. Later on the natives were given land for free to live on, now known as homesteads. The homesteads are included in the preservation and protected along with the other hundred million acres of land. Some inhabitant originated from the gold rushes.

You probably did not expect for this land to have so many amazing historical facts. Alaskan history is very real and everyone should take a little bit of time to learn more about it instead of falling into the misconceived notions of reality.




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