alaska

Alaska is a U.S. state in the northwest corner of the North American continent. It featured in the news more than usual during the 2008 political season because of Republican Presidential candidate John McCain’s selection of Alaska’s Governor, Sarah Palin, as his running mate.

The United States purchased the territory from Russia in 1867, and it became a U.S. state in 1959. Alaska is one of two states, the other being Hawaii, which does not border any other U.S. state. The only country it borders is Canada.

Anchorage is Alaska's largest city; the other two sizable towns are Fairbanks and the capitol, Juneau. The bulk of Alaska’s economy is based on oil and gas. Seafood, tourism, and the military are also important to the state’s economy.

Alaska has varied geography, resulting in a wide range of climates. The far north of the state lies north of the Arctic Circle, while the interior gets very cold in winter but quite warm in summer, and temperatures in the Anchorage area are somewhat more temperate and less extreme.

by Jon Sobel Are you a writer, passionate about this or any other topic? Join Blogcritics!

Original Technorati articles tagged “alaska”

• in Travel
  Explore Anchorage -12 Months of the Year
  There's plenty to do in Anchorage, no matter what time of the year you arrive.
  by photodb / on Nov 1, 2012
• in Politics
  $77 Million Airport In Remote Alaska
  $77 Million for remote Alaska airport
  by beattywarren / on Oct 9, 2011
• in Lifestyle
  A Threatened Polar Bear Killed by BP Security Guard in Alaska
  A polar bear was shot by a security guard hired to protect BP's Endicott Field compound on the North Slope of Alaska.
  by spcalapresident / on Aug 26, 2011

Latest blogosphere posts tagged “alaska”

 

• Small Earthquake in Anchorage - 4.4 [Later: 4.0]

  
  What Do I know? — Authority: 118
  Enough of a movement in the house to notice and think about moving, but it ended before I got up.  USGS doesnt have it listed yet - it was about 13 minutes ago (11:20pm).  This follows the warmest day I can remember in Anchorage - it was 88˚F in our backyard this afternoon, but the breeze coming in through the ...
  9 hours ago

• Redistricting Board Rolls Out A Detailed Schedule

  
  What Do I know? — Authority: 118
  Its getting to be crunch time at the Redistricting Board.  Their new schedule has them finished with their Hickel Plan by July 12, 2013. Then if the US Supreme Court rules in the Shelby County v Holder decision to invalidate Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, they plan to be done with their plan by July 12. There ...
  9 hours ago

• Alaska man feeds barbecue meat to bear. Thats a mauling!

  
  — Authority:
  Come at me bro! Courtesy of ADN : A man was mauled by a bear near the Eklutna Lake Campground on Saturday after he threw barbecued meat at the animal, the Alaska State Troopers said Sunday.  The man was at the lake, north of Anchorage, for a church picnic, said Alaska State Troopers spokeswoman Beth Ipsen.  ...
  1 day ago

• Shelby County 2: Will the End of "Racial Entitlement" Help Republicans Win?

  
  What Do I know? — Authority: 118
  Most of the Alaska Redistricting Board is hoping that the US Supreme Court will overturn Section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act when the decision on Shelby County v Holder comes out soon.  (Though one member told me it was disappointing to see that the State of Alaska filed an amicus brief for Shelby County.)   ...
  2 days ago

• UAF sets up engineering school in Mongolia

  
  Mongolia Business and Mongolian Daily Business News — Authority: 110
  FAIRBANKS, ALASKA — Seven professors from the University of Alaska Fairbanks are helping establish an engineering school at the new American University of Mongolia. Professors are helping develop curriculum and designing classrooms at the new university, located in the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator. The ...
  2 days ago

• 11 Miles & Points Credit Card Updates You May Not Know About

  
  Million Mile Secrets — Authority: 419
  [Disclosure:  Emily and I earn a commission for links to the Chase Ink cards, the Citi American Airlines MasterCard and the Barclayss Lufthansa cards when the post was published.  You dont have to use our links, but thanks for helping keep the blog running!] There have been updates to miles and points credit cards ...
  2 days ago

• Anyone doing or on RCCL Cruise Tour #12 this season?

  
  — Authority:
  Hi, Im trying to find out with not much success from RCCL the time we arrive in Aleyska on cruise tour #12 only. Also if in Aleyska they offered the Aleyska Glacier Hike optional tour on this tour #12? I want to do this & can book a 4pm hike through the Aleyska Resort where we are staying, but cant find out the ...
  2 days ago

• Alaska Land DIY or No?

  
  — Authority:
  Im going to be taking my mom on a trip to Alaska in early August and the difference for a 3 night add-on for a land portion comes to $688 for the two of us. This includes two nights in Fairbanks and one night in Denali, as well as transportation to our embarkation point in Whittier (no meals). Ive done a bit of ...
  3 days ago

• Rockies cruise tours

  
  — Authority:
  I am investigating cruising Alaska with a Rockies land tour. Celebrity use via rail rather than rocky mountaineer. Prefer celebrity itinerary in Alaska as have done princess but will we be happy with via rail.
  3 days ago

• Companies await OK for seismic exploration permits

  
  — Authority:
  June 14th 6:15 pm: Hannah Heimbuch As Arctic ice quickly succumbs to summer sun, several major energy companies are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to make good use of open ocean for exploration. Shell Oil, Norwegian geoscience company TGS, and SAExploration have all submitted requests to the Bureau of Ocean and ...
  4 days ago

• National Briefing | Northwest: Alaska: Push to Legalize Marijuana Begins

  
  — Authority:
  The proposal would make it legal for those 21 and older to use and possess up to an ounce of marijuana, though not in public.        
  4 days ago

• Crazy Status Mileage Run — Great BBQ, an Hour in Alaska,and Breakfast with Tiff (Almost)

  
  — Authority:
  As you might remember, I’m trying for status on 3 airlines this year . American Airlines granted me an Executive Platinum Challenge, which meant I needed to fly 25,000 base points. My Easter Island flights netted me 10K of the points I needed. I just had to come up with 15K base points by the end of July, which ...
  5 days ago

• Dog Survives 4 Days Under Overturned Boat

  
  The Inquisitr Entertainment — Authority: 729
  An Alaskan dog by the name of Cutie seems to have luck on her side considering she survived four days while trapped under an overturned boat. Jeremy McDonald, 34 told reporters that the boat had overturned while not only he was on it, but also his friends John and Billy Minerva, ages 35 and 25, and John Minerva’s ...
  5 days ago

• Alaska COA Remands Criminal Sentencing to Address Claims of Bias against Defendant Named “Osceola”

  
  — Authority:
  Here is the opinion in State v. Osceola . An excerpt: The superior court referred to Osceola’s Native American heritage during its sentencing remarks and when it later issued its order denying Osceola’s request to modify the judgment to reflect only the name “Michael Draco Osceola”. The court remarked that ...
  5 days ago

• Runner’s disappearance prompts changes in AK race

  
  — Authority:
  A rookie’s disappearance during a popular extreme race on Alaska’s rugged Mount Marathon has led to significant new rules in the event. Runners in the July Fourth race must make it halfway up the mountain in an hour or they will have to turn around, losing a chance to summit the 3,022-foot peak in Seward, […]
  5 days ago

• Cabin Crew Era Alaska US

  
  — Authority:
  Era Alaska is looking for Cabin Crew based in Alaska.Minimum requirements:High school diploma required21 years of age or olderFluent in English, both verbal and writtenValid driver’s license with good driving recordAble to lift 20 pounds on a regular basisIf you are interested in this job APPLY HEREYoull also be ...
  5 days ago

• “Live” Cruise Review: Un-Cruise Safari Endeavor, Alaska 2013 – The Onboard Experience

  
  — Authority:
  I ask where can you partake in a good old polar bear plunge and enjoy dinner with a genuine park ranger all while in close proximity to some of the most beautiful flora and fauna you will ever see. As I discovered last week on the Safari Endeavor , the answer is only on an exceptional Un-Cruise adventure in ...
  5 days ago

• Former Redistricting Board Director Taylor Bickford Is NOT Coming Back To The Board

  
  What Do I know? — Authority: 118
  I posted on June 4 that the Board was going to rehire former Executive Director Taylor Bickford on a part time basis to help with the mapping.  When the Board went on hiatus after the Interim Plan was accepted last May , Taylor was hired as the Director of Alaska Operations with Strategies 360 - a PR firm whose ...
  5 days ago

• The Alaska Trip, some stats, some thoughts....

  
  — Authority:
  Theres many things I need to continue refining in my mind about my ride to Alaska and back by Ural. For now, some stats: A total of 75 days away from home: Of these, the majority of them (42) were days I stayed at the home of friends I knew, friends I met along the way and friends from the Internet.  24 days were ...
  5 days ago

• You can be part of Seward’s most famous one-day event, even if you’re not a runner!

  
  — Authority:
  We have a short time to fill over 200 volunteer spots for tasks on  July 3rd in the evening  and  all day on July 4th .  If you can help , please let me know soon as possible and we’ll get your name on the list.   It’s lots of fun, and you’ll get a cool souvenir t-shirt as well. Most volunteer shifts ...
  5 days ago

Comments about alaska