Environmentally friendly Yurt Lodge & RV Park
| 51965 Wik rd Nikiski, AK 99611 214-354-1908 Robert@alaskaecovacations.com |
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| About Alaska! How big is Alaska? Alaska is the biggest of the United States. If it were superimposed over the contiguous states, Alaska would stretch from Georgia to California! Take your hat off and stay awhile; there is lots to see and do. Check the Chart I created below to see how many of your states could fit inside Alaska. Area: Land 570,375 sq miles (1,477,268 sq km), or Land and Water 656,425 sq miles, Alaska is one-fifth the size of the Lower 48 states combined. Where did the name Alaska come from? The name Alaska is derived from the Aleut word "Alyeska," meaning "great land". Our State nicknames are the Last Frontier, Land of the Midnight sun, Seward's Icebox, or Seward's Folly. When you visit Alaska, you might see it referred to as the "Great Land of the Last Frontier". What is the climate of Alaska? The biggest misconception of Alaska is that it is cold all the time. Summer is by far the best; visitors are consistently surprised at how nice the weather is in the summer. However, always keep in mind southeast Alaska is a rainforest....hence, expect rain at some point. By the way locals can pick out a tourist by the use of an umbrella. :) Keeping in mind how large Alaska is, the weather conditions vary greatly from the rain forests of the southeastern coast to the cold, relatively dry Arctic. Cold Bay is the cloudiest place in Alaska, averaging 304 overcast days a year. Sun worshippers are best advised to visit Bettles, with an average of 178 sunny (or at least partly sunny) days annually. The FAA has weather cams, as well as a place where you can calculate exactly how many hours of day light there will be on any given day...check out this website for more information. http://akweathercams. faa.gov What languages are spoken in Alaska? The main language is English however there are over 20 Alaskan Native Languages spoken. Several of these languages are on the verge of extinction. At one time Tlingit was used by select military to communicate because of the limited people who knew the language. The map above gives an idea of the languages spoken and where. Many Alaskans also use terms that are unique to the area- see "Understanding the Local Lingo". Alaska is very cosmopolitan with the number of people speaking different languages; the Anchorage school district reported that the student body speaks 83 languages. German, Japanese, and Spanish are important languages in tourism. If you are interested in learning more about Alaskan Natives, I recommend visiting the State of Alaska website. What is the population of Alaska? There are approximately 635,000 residents or about 1.1 persons per square mile. In the lower 48, there are approximately 79 people per square mile. Plenty of elbow room! The state's population ranks 47th. What is the ethnic make up of Alaska? 75% Caucasian, 15% Inuit and other indigenous groups, 4% black, and 3.2% Asian. When did Alaska become a State? On January 3, 1959, Alaska became the 49th state What is the capital of Alaska? The first Capital was Sitka when Alaska was Governed by the Russians. In 1867 the United States purchased Alaska from the Russians. Sitka remained the Capital while it was a Territory until 1906 when the Territory moved the capital to Juneau. Currently Juneau is the Capital. It is the largest city in the Southeast region and is the 3rd largest city in Alaska with 30,684 residents. Juneau is the only land-locked capital in the United States. A capital move has been on the voting ballot several times in recent years to move the capital to Wasilla, a town near Anchorage. So far it hasn't passed. When and how much was Alaska purchased for? Secretary of State William H. Seward arranged for the United States to give Russia $7.2 million in 1867 for Alaska, 2 cents per acre! At the time when it was known as Seward's Folly or Seward's Icebox, the United States thought Seward made a bad purchase. Well, Seward now has the last laugh. Alaska is now the richest natural resource State in the Union. We now have buildings that cost that much. What is the largest city in Alaska? Anchorage, with 250,000 residents, is the largest city. This is approximately half of all the residents in Alaska. What is the Alaska State gem? Our Gem is Jade. Jade is a very popular medium for Alaskan carvers and can be found, and purchased all throughout Alaska. |
| How do I get my fish home? Our staff can help arrange fish processing with some of the best processors in the Kenai area. You can transport your catch via UPS or as checked luggage in freezer box or ice chest. |
| How much daylight do we have in the summer? You’ll enjoy the great Alaskan summer. From mid-May through August we have approximately 19 hours of sunlight every day. The sun rises around 3:30 am and sets around 11:00 p.m. |
| FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |
| What clothes should I bring? Dress is very casual, after all this is Alaska. We recommend dressing in layers. Bring bluejeans, sweaters, windbreakers, hats, and good rain gear. |
| Are there a lot of bugs? Surprisingly you won’t experience the famous bird size mosquitoes on Alaska’s rivers or during our ocean adventures. During visits into remote areas you may encounter mosquitoes. |
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| What is the summer weather like? |
| Where can I get a hot shower or wash my clothes? There is a laundry mat that also has clean hot showers in Soldotna which is 35 minutes away. Soldotna Wash & Dry 121 Smiths Way (907) 262-8495 |