Last Updated: May 14, 2022
What Is Alaska Known For?
Alaska is the largest state and least densely populated state in the USA which makes it a land of cultural and natural wonders. There are hundreds of national parks, islands, mountains, rivers, glaciers and so much more to discover in Alaska making it a place everyone should visit at least once in their lives.
Join me as we take a look at the top things Alaska is known for so that you can use them all to make the best of your time on your Alaska vacation.
Table Of Contents
Show All
The People
While being a land of natural beauty makes Alaska famous, it’s also home to an amazingly diverse cultural heritage that is held up by the traditions of Native Alaskans. You might be surprised to hear that Native Alaskan culture is divided up into eleven different groups which are spread across different regions of the state.
You have the Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian cultures from southeast Alaska, while the Alutiiq (Sugpiaq) and Unangax are from South-central Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, and the list goes on. There are a total of 231 tribes across Alaska and something that makes Alaska famous is its ongoing traditions.
While in Alaska you can visit Alaska native museums, hang out with the locals, go dog mushing, and learn more about their practices at cultural centers.
Trans-Alaska Pipeline
If there is something Alaska is known for it is their incredible amount of natural resources that are abundant in this great land and what comes with it is the Trans-Alaska Pipeline which was built from prospect creek camp.
The pipeline is quite an incredible thing as it takes oil over 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay at the tip of North America in the Arctic Circle to Valdez in Southeastern Alaska.
It took 76,000 people almost ten years and 8 billion dollars of funding to complete the pipeline in 1977 and when you understand the construction you’ll know why. To ensure the oil stays stable, there are 124 heat pipes running alongside it and 400 miles of the pipeline are raised off the ground due to permafrost.
It’s said that if you stand in one spot by the pipeline a million dollars worth of oil will have passed through it while you were there – how crazy is that!
National Parks
Something Alaska is famous for, more than anything else, is its large number of national parks that protect the Alaskan wilderness and the incredible wildlife that goes with it. There are a total of 17 national parks in Alaska and another 16 wildlife refuges to go with them, and you have probably heard of some of them.
Elias National Park is the largest national park spanning an amazing 13.2 million acres, which is pretty much incomprehensible as it’s so many times bigger than any other national park in the US. Not many people get to Elias NP though!
Denali National Park is probably the most famous national park in Alaska as it’s home to the tallest mountain with the tallest peak in North America called Denali or Mount Mckinley depending on who you’re talking to.
Denali National Park is also home to lots of wildlife such as bears, caribou, and lots more and it spans some 6 million acres and is visited by almost half a million people every year.
Then you have Glacier Bay National Park, which can only be accessed by boat and is home to a lot of glaciers but we’ll discuss more this national park later on in the glacier section.
Mild Summers
Alaska lies north of British Columbia and south of the Arctic Ocean at the tip of North America, so you’d expect it to be kind of chilly. While Alaska does have cold winters the summers are surprisingly mild making it the ideal time to visit the most popular tourist attractions.
However, the weather in Alaska is dependent on where you are in the country. The coastal regions tend to be around 60 degrees Fahrenheit while central Alaska experiences temperatures of 70-90 degrees Fahrenheit, perfect for exploring.
Alaskan cruises
Image courtesy of Flickr
If there is one thing Alaska is famous for it is Alaskan Cruises. There isn’t a better way to see the Alaskan coast than by hopping on a cruise along the Pacific ocean of Alaska and around the Bering Sea.
Imagine watching wildlife gathering on the shores, polar bears hunting, all while watching from a stunning ship that is your home for a few days. Sounds awesome, doesn’t it? Well, it’s vastly popular with over a million people going on cruises in Alaska every year.
You have two options when going on a cruise in Alaska, to go on a small boat or to go on a large boat. Small boat cruises are far more intimate and you can access the harder to get to parts of the coast such as Glacier Bay National Park.
The Wildlife and Wilderness
Alaska is famous for being one of the wildest areas in North America and is home to an incredible number of diverse species. Between the mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes, arctic circle, and the oceans that surround it, there isn’t much you can’t see while you’re there.
You’ll find bears, seals, salmon, whales, moose, sea lions, caribou, and loads more all set amongst dramatic glaciers, mountain peaks, and more stunning landscapes.
Dog Sledding
Another of the things Alaska is famous for is Dog Sledding. Also referred to as Dog Mushing, it has deep roots in Alaska, so much so that it’s the state sport and a primary mode of transport for the locals, especially in the most sparsely populated areas.
Being a state sport, there are races held all across Alaska the first of which was held in 1908. Dog sledding also made its name in 1925 during a diphtheria outbreak when sled teams traveled over 800 miles to deliver the cure.
If you’re visiting Alaska in winter then you’ll have every chance of going dog sledding while you’re there and if you find yourself there in summer then dog carting is an option.
Fishing
Another thing that makes Alaska famous is the amazing fishing that it has. The sea off Alaska is teeming with everything from halibut to crabs and salmon while the rivers and lakes are stuffed full of grayling, trout and during spawning season steelhead and a number of species of salmon including the most sought after, king salmon which get particularly huge.
If you want to go fishing in Alaska then the best time of year to be there is during the summer between May and September. This is when the rivers are brimming with salmon and anglers usually use fly or spinning rods to catch them in the rivers. You can also go fishing in the sea and lakes on a boat where you’ll troll lures, sometimes really deep, to catch the huge salmon that call the waters home.
Northern Lights
Something else that makes Alaska famous is the northern lights also called the aurora borealis and it’s the only state in the US you can see them from. Thousands of people travel to Alaska every year to see the northern lights dance across the night sky and it’s so beautiful that it’s labeled one of the seven wonders of the world.
To see the Northern Lights, you’ll have to be in Alaska between September and March, so over winter, but stick to September and March if you don’t like being too chilly. You’ll also have to be within the Aurora Oval which is a big ring over the North Pole where the lights show themselves.
One of the best places in Alaska to see the lights is in Fairbanks as it sits just inside the Aurora Oval. Make sure you book a tracker so you are guaranteed to see the lights and when you do you’ll be blown away. Seeing dancing green and sometimes red and purple lights is an experience you won’t forget.
Bears
If there is one animal that Alaska is famous for its bears and this is thanks to the species of bears you can find them, and the number of them too. There are loads of black bears, brown bears, and polar bears in Alaska which makes it one of the best places in the world to see bears in the wild.
There is the iconic image of bears eating salmon in almost every nature documentary and this all happens in Alaska.
There are over 100,000 bears in Alaska and you’re highly likely to bump into them when hiking around the national parks so be sure to keep your distance.
Glaciers
Alaska is a land of glaciers and officially there are 616 glaciers in Alaska but that only includes the famous glaciers that are named, which are the largest. But, it’s estimated there are around 100,000 more glaciers in Alaska that have yet to be named or counted.
The largest glacier in Alaska and the biggest glacier in North America is the Bering Glacier which is some 126 miles long and 1900 square miles.
Most of the other famous glaciers such as Matanuska Glacier and McBride Glacier in Alaska are in Glacier Bay National Park which you can only access via boat. Other amazing glaciers include Hubbard Glacier, Mendenhall Glacier, and Exit Glacier.
The Vast Wilderness
Alaska is as large as two states combined and only 20% of Alaska is actually accessible by road, leaving 80% of it to be wild wilderness. It’s square mile after square mile of uncharted lands which are there to be explored and it’s stunningly beautiful at the same time.
You’ll find everything from meadows to dense forests, open tundra, streams, rivers, waterfalls, lakes, islands, fjords, and lots more.
If you really want to see the wilderness of Alaska you’re going to need to hop on a boat or a plane to reach it but it’s worth it. From cruises to float trips down rivers and even flying into remote lodges, you’ll be blown away by the vastness.
The Midnight Sun
The Midnight Sun might be something you haven’t heard of and it describes the long summer days of Alaska. Since the sun doesn’t set in the Arctic Circle areas of Alaska, you get to see the Midnight Sun which is when the sun falls to the horizon as if it’s setting but instead of falling below the horizon, it rises again.
The reason seeing the Midnight Sun is so cool is because it creates the most amazing sunset you might ever experience as it’s a sunset and sunrise all in one. Imagine the colors of the sunset going on for ages and ages, it’s truly a sight to see.
The best time to see this is between May and August and in the northernmost parts of Alaska, pretty much Fairbanks and even further north of it.
Iconic locations
When you travel to Alaska you have to see some of the most iconic locations it has to offer if you want to have the best experience possible, one of which is Juneau.
Juneau is the capital city of Alaksin and the only capital city in the United States accessible by only boat or plane. It’s also the second-largest city in the USA by area and is bigger than Rhode Island.
Another great place in Alaska is the Kenai River which is a beautiful river with crystal blue waters while Brooks Falls is the place to go if you want to get a picture of a bear grabbing a salmon out of the river. You should also check out Kodiak Island.
It Used To Be Russian
If you know about the history of Alaska then you’ll know what I’m talking about when I say that Alaska used to be Russian. Way back in 1867, an event occurred called Seward’s Folly which is when the United States Secretary of State, William Seward bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million dollars.
It was deemed a folly as it was considered to be a huge mistake by a lot of Americans but it was actually a huge success since gold was discovered in the 1890s along with all the other natural resources discovered today.
About the Author Roger Timbrook
Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!
