History

- Russians first owned and explored Alaska and started

sea otter skin industry
- William Seward as Secretary of State under Pres.
Andrew Johnson negotiated purchase from Russia in
1867 for 7.2 million ~ 2 cents/acre
- Seward’s Folly

- Gold discovered in 1872 – attracted many

prospectors and miners
- Top production by 1906

- 1912 named an official U.S. Territory

- ARR began in 1914 and logging became a big

industry in SE

- 1942 due to the war the Alaska Hghwy was built

- 1975-1977 Trans Alaska Pipeline built

- Oil pumped out of ground @ 180 degree and then

through pipe @ 120 so could not bury as it would
melt permafrost
 - 49th State in 1959

- Contains very similar biota to Russia

- Bering Strait separates the two and is only 55 miles
across
o Two continents connected in Winter when
surface freezes over
o During last ice age (>30,000 yrs ago) sea level
was so low that during summer there was a land
bridge connecting two continents
o Human migration from Asia occurred up to
11,000 yrs ago

Maritime Climate
- Wet and mild
- Southern coasts and islands
- SE wettest part of N.A.
- Ketchikan avgs 150” rain per year
- Found within Tongass National Forest – Largest Nat.
Forest in U.S. 16.8 mi acres
- Juneau driest months May-July
- Juneau avg summer high 64 low 48 winter hi 29 lo
18
Transitional Climate
 - All FW bodies freeze during winter
- Bering Seas cold temps & ice keep W Alaska cold
most of time
- Anchorage W 20 S 65
Continental Climate
- Dry weather, hot summers and very cold winters
- Greatest temp variations in the state
o Fairbanks summer hi 90 winter low -40
o Denali one hike started morning 34 went to mid
60’s and within an hour started snowing (32)
- Sunniest part of state except highest rainfall in
summer
- Was popular with hunters and fishermen, but now
ecotravellers
- More preserved land than any other state
- 1 million tourists each summer and ¼ in winter and
fall