Alaska Adventures Will Leave You Breathless

By Janelle Burnett


Alaska has eastern borders with the Yukon and British Columbia, both in Canada. The Gulf of Alaska, the Pacific and the Arctic oceans form the western, southern and northern borders. It is the US's biggest state by a long way and forms the most north-westerly point of continental North American. There are only 1.2 residents per square mile here (the lowest concentration of population in the US and one of the most sparsely inhabited areas on Earth), mainly settled around the port of Anchorage and Juneau, the state capital. This vast and thinly populated area creates the ideal setting for Alaska adventures.

The Alaskan coastline stretches over a distance of some 34,000 miles, longer than the combined length of every other state's coastline added together. There are stunning contrasts between the Pacific Ocean and the Arctic, where the waters are cold and dark. Scuba enthusiasts will revel in the crystal clear water in winter which reveals incredible scenery of spectacular beauty without the dangers of hazardous marine life. Whales, otters and puffins can be seen by tourists on cruises from Seward.

The Interior region is a largely uninhabited wilderness area. It is home to the Denali National Park where sightseers can view caribou, moose and bear. Denali is also the local name for Mount McKinley, the highest point in North America.

Visitors can explore more than three million lakes. Glacial ice covers 1,200 square miles of the Alaskan tidal region as well as 16,000 square miles of dry land. In the North Slope region, most of the terrain is tundra. This widely varying landscape might best be traversed in an ATV tour.

Alaska's wild countryside can be explored wonderfully by means of a dog sled expedition. A team of malamutes can pull you excitingly between remote wilderness lodges. Snow machining is a faster, more contemporary alternative to dog sledding. Canoeing and sea kayaking in areas such as Prince William Sound are other popular activities for those vacationing in the state.

The Cook Inlet is a great place to see grizzlies fishing for salmon. Human anglers can also indulge in fly-fishing in the area. Fishermen and eco-tourists alike can indulge their passions on the Alagnak River and the Kenai Peninsula. Camping, hiking and hunting can all be incorporated into your adventure.

Changing seasons bring varying attractions to the different regions of the state. American Bald Eagles congregate in larger concentrations than anywhere else in the world every spring near the Stikine River. Many spectators and participants arrive each year for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Fall is the best season to view polar bears in the area. The state boasts the largest wildlife reserve in the world and the biggest National Forest in the US; the 6.5 million hectare Arctic National Wildlife Reserve and the Tongass National Forest respectively.

Your Alaska adventures start as soon as you leave the towns and get off the roads. Ice climbing, mountaineering and glacier tours (the state has 100,000 glaciers, half of all the glaciers in the world) are marvellous for smaller tour groups. Flight-seeing trips, bear viewing, cruise land tours and wildlife excursions can be incorporated into a perfect vacation for the whole family.




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