If asked, most people will answer that the largest state in the Union is Texas. However, Alaska is actually about two times larger than Texas. True, a lot of the northern territory is extremely cold and nearly uninhabitable, except for the caribou, bears, and other tundra animals such as the Arctic fox and musk ox.

There are approximately 664 named glaciers in Alaska. Be sure to visit some of the glaciers like the Mendenhall Glacier located near Juneau in Tongass National Forest. Also, Alaska is home to the highest mountain peak in North America. Denali is 20,310 feet at its summit, and it is the centerpiece of Denali National Park and Preserve. Its Indian name means “The Great One”.

You can view the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, at certain times of the year. The Aurora Borealis is an amazing light display that is caused by electrically charged solar particles that collide with gases when they enter the earth’s atmosphere. These can be seen in the northern hemisphere during late August and September.

The winters can be grueling as evidenced in the Interior with temperatures plunging to -50 degrees and on occasion, -60 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. For obvious reasons, the best time to visit is during the summer months. However, be prepared to stay up late because the sun doesn’t set for 20+ hours during the summer solstice. Remember! It is the Land of the Midnight Sun.

If you visit Anchorage in early Spring, you can watch the start of the 14-team dog race along the 975-mile Iditarod Trail from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska, which occurs the first Saturday in March.

By the way, never turn down caribou chili or hot dogs when you visit Alaska. They are delicious! All in all, Alaska is a great adventure!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurorahttps://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Climate_of_Alaska https://alaska.gov/kids/learn/facts.htm https://iditarod.com/edu/iditarod-trail-sled-dog-race/ https://www.alaskacenters.gov/explore/attractions/glaciers/ famous-alaskanhttps://en.wikipedia.org https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denali https://iditarod.com/about/the-iditarod-trail/ https://www.anchorage.net/events/summer-solsticefestival/ https://www.mylifeelsewhere.com/state-size-comparison/al aska-usa/texas-usa https://sciencing.com/alaskan-tundra-5875896.html

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