Alaska

Alaska is the biggest state in the United States by land. It sits in the far northwest, next to Canada. Alaska has cold winters, snowy mountains, and lots of wild animals. Its capital is Juneau. The United States bought Alaska from Russia in 1867.

Land and Animals

Alaska has huge glaciers, tall mountains, and thick forests. Mount Denali is the highest mountain in North America. Many animals live in Alaska, like grizzly bears, moose, wolves, and bald eagles. Whales and seals swim in the cold ocean waters. Parts of Alaska are inside the Arctic Circle.

Life in Alaska

Not many people live in Alaska because much of it is wild. Some towns can only be reached by boat or plane. In summer, parts of Alaska have sunlight almost all day and night. In winter, those same places can have very long nights. Dog sledding is a popular sport here.

Fun Facts

• Alaska has more than 3 million lakes.
• The state flower is the forget-me-not.
• The Iditarod is a famous long dog sled race held every year in Alaska.

Did You Know?

Alaska is so big that if you cut it in half, each half would still be bigger than Texas!