Interesting Alaska Trivia
Over the years, the Alaska Air Forwarding team has written a lot on our blog about what it's like to ship freight to and from Alaska. We've highlighted many locations and interesting facts about the state, but there are many tidbits of info about the state that we think are worth sharing, too, but haven't just yet. So, here is a bit of interesting Alaska trivia!
Alaska has many landscapes, including towering mountains, vast glaciers, and pristine wilderness. It is the largest state in the United States, larger than the next three largest states combined. It is also a land of extremes. The state experiences both the midnight sun in the summer and the polar nights in the winter. The midnight sun occurs when the sun never sets below the horizon. The polar nights are when the sun never rises above the horizon.
Alaska is a travel destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The state is an excellent location for hiking, fishing, camping, and kayaking. Alaska is also a great place to see wildlife. Visitors can see bears, moose, caribou, wolves, whales, and countless bird species. The official state tree is the tall Sitka spruce, and the state flower is the forget-me-not with its delicate white and light bluish-purple flower clusters.
Alaska is home to many indigenous peoples, including the Inuit, Aleut, and Athabascan. These cultures have a long, rich, and diverse history that continues today. There are a number of unique Native Alaskan cultural centers and museums around the state as well.
The food in Alaska is pretty unique, too. It's a delicious blend of indigenous traditions and modern influences, heavily reliant on the state's abundant natural resources. Seafood reigns supreme, with salmon, halibut, crab, and various shellfish being staples. Salmon is enjoyed in numerous ways, from grilled and smoked to baked and stewed. Halibut is a mild-tasting, firm-fleshed fish that is typically pan-fried, grilled, or baked. King crab, Dungeness crab, and snow crab are prized catches, often enjoyed boiled or steamed.
Wild game also plays a significant role in Alaskan cuisine. Reindeer sausage and burgers are popular at local markets and restaurants. Moose meat is often served in stews, roasts, or ground into burgers. Caribou is another source of lean and flavorful meat. While less common, bear meat is sometimes enjoyed in traditional dishes.
Fresh berries are also abundant in Alaska. Blueberries are widely used in pies, jams, and other desserts. Salmonberries are tart berries often used in jams and sauces. Alaska is also home to wild cranberries used in various dishes and beverages.
Indigenous foods continue to be an important part of Alaskan cuisine. Akutaq, a traditional Eskimo ice cream, is a refreshing blend of berries, fat (often seal or whale blubber), and sometimes fish. Fry bread, a simple but delicious fried dough, is a common street food and can be enjoyed with various toppings. Salted and dried fish is a traditional method of preserving fish and is often enjoyed as a snack.
Additional details about Alaska:
- Alaska is the only state in the United States that borders Russia.
- The highest mountain peak in North America, called Denali, meaning "the high one" in native Kuyokan Athabascan, is located near the central community of Healy. The closest city is Fairbanks, over 120 miles away.
- Alaska is the only state in the United States with a coastline on the Arctic and Pacific oceans.
- Alaska has several national parks and forests, including Denali National Park & Preserve, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve and Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve.
We hope you have a chance to visit Alaska someday to experience it for yourself. In the meantime, let us know how we can help you with your freight shipping needs. We go door to door where no other shipping company can – even to remote locations. With the expertise to handle your goods and equipment quickly and efficiently, you can trust Alaska Air Forwarding as your air freight connection.
