Alaska’s only actual city is the most chill summer spot, but come winter, you may find yourself frozen in more ways than one. The Japanese occupied two Alaskan islands for 15 months during World War II, a fact many people are unaware of. They used Attu and Kiska as potential launching points if they were ever going to invade the continental 48 states. That never happened, but it is an exciting chapter of American history which is not taught very often in school.
Alaska is also a state of mountains. 17 out of the 20 tallest peaks in the US can be found here. The most notable of them is Mt. McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America at 20,320 feet.
Here are a few of the pros about living in Alaska:
1. Chill, Diverse People
In terms of ethnicity and culture, Anchorage, Alaska, is one of the most diverse cities in the U.S., even surpassing Queens, New York; Mountain View, a neighborhood in Anchorage, is the most diverse area in all of Alaska. The heterogeneity of the population is due to the significant presence of Alaska Natives, which many other states lack. Still, the overall demographic is majority white, primarily due to the multiple military bases that bring people worldwide to Anchorage.
2. The Summer Sunshine
Anchorage gets 19.5 hours of sunlight a day at the summer solstice. It makes sense to visit for that reason. Sunny skies are accompanied by temperatures between sixty and seventy degrees. It keeps you comfortable while hiking or riding a bike outside without becoming overheated or shivering.
Alaska is the place to be if you love outdoor activities. While hiking the many trails throughout the state, you can also visit glaciers on foot or by boat, and go zip lining over glaciers and rivers. During the winter, Alaska should be a no-brainer if you like to snowboard or ski.
3. Northern Lights
The stunning Northern Lights have been depicted or captured on video many times over the course of history. As a permanent resident of Alaska, you would be able to view the lights every year.
On the other hand, prepare yourself for the cons about Alaska :
1. Long Nights and Cold Winters
This one should be obvious. While Alaska has diverse geographical regions with highly different climates, Alaska is still known for its cold winters and long nights.
Just as Alaska gets beautiful sunshine almost all day in the summers, in the winters, the opposite happens, and darkness and cold take over. For example, during the winter solstice, Anchorage only gets around five hours of sunlight, meaning 19 hours of the pitch-black sky.
2. The Distance from the Lower 48
Shipping can be a pain. Alaskans know that not all companies ship products to the state, so getting new clothes can be a hassle. Shipping is annoying, but so is the lack of attention Alaska receives from artists and authors. Alaska never really had a large venue to host famous singers and musicians, so until recently, when the Alaska Airlines Center was built, the city rarely hosted significant acts.
3. City Life Is Nil
Anchorage is Alaska's largest city, but I refer to it as "city living" in Anchorage terms. Although there are things to do like plays, museums, and local events, the city life is relatively slow compared to larger cities in the U.S. If you love to go bar hopping, you’re going to have to walk around town quite a bit before getting to the next bar, as Anchorage is very spread out.
Bonus: Here are fun facts about Alaska:
- Prudhoe Bay, on the northern Alaskan coast, is North America’s largest oil field.
- The Trans-Alaska Pipeline moves up to 88,000 barrels of oil per hour on its 800 mile journey to Valdez.
- The fishing and seafood industry is the state’s largest private industry employer.
- Most of America’s salmon, crab, halibut, and herring come from Alaska.
- The term Alaska native refers to Alaska’s original inhabitants including Aleut, Eskimo and Indian groups.
- The wild forget-me-not is the official state flower. The Territorial Legislature adopted it in 1917.
- The willow ptarmigan is the official state bird. The Territorial Legislature adopted it in 1955.
- The Sitka spruce is the official state tree. The Territorial Legislature adopted it in 1962.
- Dog mushing is the official state sport. The Alaska Legislature adopted it in 1972.
- An unnamed draftsman created the state seal in 1910. It consists of a rising sun shining on forests, lake, fishing and shipping boats, and agricultural and mining activities.
If you have tried living in Alaska, please share with us your experiences! Hit the comment section below!
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska
http://economicdevelopment.org/2015/07/pros-cons-of-relocating-to-alaska/
https://whatwhenwhy.net/moving-to-alaska/
https://www.50states.com/facts/alaska.htm
http://america.aljazeera.com/multimedia/2015/8/most-diverse-neighborhood-in-us-is-in-alaska.html