Alaska was the forty ninth state and is also the largest state in the United States. Purchased from Russia by William Seward, Secretary of State in 1867, he paid only 7.2 million dollars for the land, which came out roughly to two cents per acre. The land did not become a state until almost one hundred years after it was purchased. Misunderstood, Alaskan history is often times taken for granted.
There are several very well known disasters that have left their mark in Alaskan history. One of the most publicized and well known is the Exxon Valdez oil spill of 1989. This spill consisted of eleven million gallons of crude oil being dumped along fifteen hundred miles of the Alaskan coastline. It took over three years and thousands of people to aide in the cleanup of this disaster. In 1992 there was another oil spill, this time it was BP that ended up spilling two hundred sixty seven thousand gallons of crude oil, nowhere near the magnitude of Exxon Valdez. Another very notable disaster is the earthquake of 1964. It measured 9.2 magnitude, was the largest recorded earthquake in North America and the second largest in the entire world.
Disasters are not the only thing in the history of Alaska. There are other facts that make it notable. Did you know that it was purchased from Russia for 7.2 million dollars back in 1867 by William Seward, the US Secretary of State. That equates to only two cent per acre. It became the 49th state in the US on January 3, 1959. It became a state almost 100 years after its purchase. It was first discovered in 1741 by a Russian expedition led by Vitus Bering along with George Steller.
Wildlife abounds in Alaska, home to the three United State bears, it is the only place where all three bears can be found. The polar bear is the most noted bear in the group. There are also bugs such as mosquitoes but you do not have to worry because these pest do not carry or transmit any diseased. The aborigines and animals cohabitate the lands and have found a balance that works for everyone and everything involved.
Defined by snow and ice capped peaks, Alaska is home to seventeen out of the twenty highest peaks in the United States with Mt McKinney being the highest in North America. Home to the Mt Spurr volcano, which is the most active eastern volcano and part of a stratovolcano. In 1992 Mt Spurr erupted three different times and in 2009 Mt Redoubt, another volcano, erupted five times.
One of the most beautiful and amazing wonders of this land is the aurora borealis and northern lights. This mesmerizing phenomenon originates from the sun and creates a show of lights when particles collide with the atmospheric gases. It also houses seventeen out of twenty of the highest peaks in the United States. The Mt Spurr volcano is one of several snow and ice covered peaks defining a large dissected stratovolcano. Mt. Spurr is the eastern most historically active volcano and erupted three times in 1992. In 2009 the Mt Redoubt volcano erupted five times.
Bright lights and colors always amaze people; therefore, the northern lights and aurora borealis are two of Alaska's most notable features. These amazing lights occur when particles from the sun collide with gases in the atmosphere. Historically this is one of the few places where you can experience this spectacular light show and still be amazed viewing it over and over as the natives do.
There are so many interesting facts and bits of Alaskan history to learn about. Most people do not realize that this land is more than just snow, ice and cold temperatures. It is an amazing preservation home to a multitude of wildlife. Taking time to explore and learn some of the details of the land of the midnight sun may prove to be more entertain than you ever thought it could be and it may be intriguing enough to make you want to visit the last frontier.
There are several very well known disasters that have left their mark in Alaskan history. One of the most publicized and well known is the Exxon Valdez oil spill of 1989. This spill consisted of eleven million gallons of crude oil being dumped along fifteen hundred miles of the Alaskan coastline. It took over three years and thousands of people to aide in the cleanup of this disaster. In 1992 there was another oil spill, this time it was BP that ended up spilling two hundred sixty seven thousand gallons of crude oil, nowhere near the magnitude of Exxon Valdez. Another very notable disaster is the earthquake of 1964. It measured 9.2 magnitude, was the largest recorded earthquake in North America and the second largest in the entire world.
Disasters are not the only thing in the history of Alaska. There are other facts that make it notable. Did you know that it was purchased from Russia for 7.2 million dollars back in 1867 by William Seward, the US Secretary of State. That equates to only two cent per acre. It became the 49th state in the US on January 3, 1959. It became a state almost 100 years after its purchase. It was first discovered in 1741 by a Russian expedition led by Vitus Bering along with George Steller.
Wildlife abounds in Alaska, home to the three United State bears, it is the only place where all three bears can be found. The polar bear is the most noted bear in the group. There are also bugs such as mosquitoes but you do not have to worry because these pest do not carry or transmit any diseased. The aborigines and animals cohabitate the lands and have found a balance that works for everyone and everything involved.
Defined by snow and ice capped peaks, Alaska is home to seventeen out of the twenty highest peaks in the United States with Mt McKinney being the highest in North America. Home to the Mt Spurr volcano, which is the most active eastern volcano and part of a stratovolcano. In 1992 Mt Spurr erupted three different times and in 2009 Mt Redoubt, another volcano, erupted five times.
One of the most beautiful and amazing wonders of this land is the aurora borealis and northern lights. This mesmerizing phenomenon originates from the sun and creates a show of lights when particles collide with the atmospheric gases. It also houses seventeen out of twenty of the highest peaks in the United States. The Mt Spurr volcano is one of several snow and ice covered peaks defining a large dissected stratovolcano. Mt. Spurr is the eastern most historically active volcano and erupted three times in 1992. In 2009 the Mt Redoubt volcano erupted five times.
Bright lights and colors always amaze people; therefore, the northern lights and aurora borealis are two of Alaska's most notable features. These amazing lights occur when particles from the sun collide with gases in the atmosphere. Historically this is one of the few places where you can experience this spectacular light show and still be amazed viewing it over and over as the natives do.
There are so many interesting facts and bits of Alaskan history to learn about. Most people do not realize that this land is more than just snow, ice and cold temperatures. It is an amazing preservation home to a multitude of wildlife. Taking time to explore and learn some of the details of the land of the midnight sun may prove to be more entertain than you ever thought it could be and it may be intriguing enough to make you want to visit the last frontier.
About the Author:
You can visit the website www.auntphilstrunk.com for more helpful information about Alaskan History Taken For Granted
No comments:
Post a Comment