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In 1867 the United States purchased the land we know as "Alaska" from Russia for a total of $7.2 million, today that would be about $125 million - just about 2 cents an acre.
Eventually, in 1959, Alaska officially became the 49th State - and now, nearly 3 million visitors make the journey to Alaska each year. Nowadays, Alaska is typically split into 5 different regions - the Far North, the Interior, the South West, South Central, and South East. |
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The Far North
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Indigenous Cultures : Iñupiat (in-NOO-pee-at) & Yup'ik (YOO-PIK) cultures that practice traditional hunting and gathering of marine and land animals, birds, fish and berries.
Largest Cities : Nome, Utqiagvik, and Prudhoe Bay. Top Attractions : Gates of the Arctic National Park, Kobuk Valley National Park, Arctic Ocean, The North Slope, Northern Lights, and Polar Bears. |
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The Interior
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Indigenous Cultures : The Athabascan (ath-uh-bas-kuhn) people are found in Interior and Southwest Alaska, and traditionally followed local fish and wildlife, settling around large rivers.
Largest Cities : Fairbanks, Tok, and Fort Yukon. Top Attractions : Chena Hot Springs, Pioneer Park, Northern Lights, and the Alaska Pipeline. |
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The Southwest
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Indigenous Cultures : There are a number of Indigenous Cultures found in Southwest Alaska. Yup’ik (YOO-PIK) & Cup’ik (Choo-pik) people that rely on the environment around them. They practice traditional hunting and gathering, as well as more creative outlets like making masks, dance fans and grass baskets. The Unangax̂ (Oo-nun-gahx) and Sugpiaq (Soog-pyack) people rely on their close relations to the sea, from their food to their clothes, and were heavily influenced by the Russian cultures along the Aleutian Islands.
Largest Cities : Bethel, Dillingham, Dutch Harbor & the Aleutian Islands and Kodiak. Top Attractions : Katmai National Park, Brooks Falls Bears, Lake Clark National Park, Kodiak Island, Aleutian Islands & Dutch Harbor. |
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The Southcentral
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Indigenous Cultures : The Athabascan people are found in Interior and Southwest Alaska, and traditionally followed local fish and wildlife, settling around large rivers.
Largest Cities : Anchorage, Palmer & Wasilla, the Kenai Peninsula including Seward, Homer, and Valdez. Top Attractions : Kenai Fjords National Park, Denali National Park, Hatcher Pass, Prince William Sound, Exit Glacier, Matanuska Glacier, Marine Wildlife, Glaciers, Waterfalls. |
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The Southeast
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Indigenous Cultures : Eyak, Haida, Tsimshian, and Tlingit cultures are found throughout the Inside Passage of Alaska. Known for being creative, they expertly craft items like ceremonial robes, totem poles, and canoes.
Largest Cities : Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan and Skagway. Top Attractions : Glacier Bay National Park, Marine Wildlife, Glaciers, Tongass National Forest and of course the many Alaskan Cruises. |
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