~ALASKA~ Exploring our 49th state Alaskan Timeline Come

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ALASKA

• Exploring our 49th state

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Alaska officially became the 49th state on
January 3,1959.
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In Alaska today, there are five distinct
native groups Tlingit Inupiaqs Yupiks
Aleuts Athabascan
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The Inupiaq and Yupik scattered throughout the
northern and western regions of Alaska, while the
Aleuts settled mainly on the islands later named
for them, the Aleutians.
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In Southeast Alaska, a region of lush forests,
mild climate,abundant fish, game, and edible
plants, the Tlingit (pronounced Klinkit), Haida,
and Tshimshian Indians thrived. Their highly
developed culture produced totem poles,
ceremonial costumes, and exquisite blankets. But
the Tlingits were also fierce warriors. When the
first Russians tried to settle in Sitka, the
Tlingits drove them out, despite the guns and
cannons brought by the intruders.
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The Athabascan Indians of central Alaska faced
harsher living conditions. Life was often feast
or famine. Close relatives of the Navajos and
Apaches, the Athabascans were accomplished
hunters. They followed herds of caribou and moose
for vast distances, and fished for salmon and
other river fish. They traded furs and other
goods with nearby Tlingits, Inupiaqs and Yupiks.
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Today, Alaska's diverse Native peoples remain
strong in Alaska. In 1992, Natives comprised 16
percent of the states population. Rapid advances
in communications, transportation, and other
services to remote villages have dramatically
changed Native life. Alaska Natives, today, live
in many different ways.Many still hunt and fish
and make crafts, following ancient traditions.
Other Natives are business owners and heads of
corporations. Yet even the most remote villages,
which may be hundreds of miles from the nearest
road, are connected to modern technology and have
television, phones, and Internet access.
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Alaskan Timeline
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• 1861 Gold discovered on Stikine River near
  Telegraph Creek.In effect Sitka pulp mill opens.
• 1867 U.S. purchases Alaska from Russia Pribilof
  Islands placed under jurisdiction of Secretary of
  Treasury. Fur seal population stablized under
  Russian rule, declines rapidly.
• 1898 Skagway is largest city in Alaska work
  starts on White Pass and Yukon railroad. Congress
  appropriates money for telegraph from Seattle to
  Sitka Nome gold rush begins.
• 1916 First bill for Alaska statehood introduced
  in Congress. Alaskans vote in favor of
  prohibition by a 2 to 1 margin.
• 1958 Statehood measure passes President
  Eisenhower sign statehood bill.
• 1959 WE'RE IN! Statehood proclaimed state
  constitution. U.S. Court of Claims issues
  judgment favoring Tlingit and Haida claims to
  Southeast Alaska lands.

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MOUNTAINS Of the 20 highest peaks in the
United States, 17 are in Alaska. Mt. McKinley,
the highest peak in North America, is 20,320 ft.
above sea level. Denali, the Indian name for the
peak, means "The Great One."
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WATER BODIES The Yukon River, almost 2,000
miles long, is the third longest river in the
U.S. There are more than 3,000 rivers in Alaska
and over 3 million lakes. The largest, Lake
Iliamna, encompasses over 1,000 square miles.
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GLACIERS Alaska has an estimated 100,000
glaciers, ranging from tiny cirque glaciers to
huge valley glaciers. There are more active
glaciers and ice fields in Alaska than in the
rest of the inhabited world. The largest glacier
is the Malaspina at 850 square miles. Five
percent of the state, or 29,000 square miles, is
covered by glaciers.
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General We have areas that get 24 hours
of daylight, and some that get 24 hours of night
! 3 million lakes. How big are we? Very big!
586,400 Square Miles We are 2 times the size of
Texas!
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33,000 miles of coastline! 1,400 miles North to
South 2,700 miles East to West Over 1/2 the
world's Glaciers 55 miles east of Russia We are
the only state to have coastlines on three
different seas Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean and
Bering Sea.
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Official State Motto North to
the future. State Flower Forget-me-not. The
plant grows well in most of Alaska's varied
climate. State Marine Mammal Bowhead whale
State Fish King salmon (Oncorhynchus
tshawytscha)King salmon weighing up to 100 lb.
have been caught in Alaska. The king salmon is
also known as the chinook salmon and is a popular
sport fish. It became the state fish in 1962.
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State Gem Jade Alaska has a large deposit of
jade, including an big mountain filled with dark
green jade on the Seward Peninsula. State
Mineral Gold The search for gold played a major
role in shaping the history of Alaska, from the
discovery of gold in Juneau to the great gold
rush at Nome. Gold was named the state mineral in
1968.
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Alaska has an abundance of Animals, including
this Kodiak bear!
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Come Visit Alaska!
http//www.state.ak.us/ State official site,
lots of good links!! http//www.nationalgeographic
.com/greatland/ Explore Alaskas land, wildlife,
history, and people. http//www.alaskasbest.com/f
acts.htm Fun Facts and music! http//home.gci.net
/alaskan/alaskan.htm Go here for a tale of a
real-life Musher.