Joey Saves The Day!: Facts about Alaska

Alaska Facts

Learn facts about Alaska for kids.

Last week, we posted about Alabama. This week, we are posting facts about Alaska. You will learn about Alaska's state flag, bird, and other state facts.

Did you know that Alaska was the 49^th state to join the union? Alaska officially joined the union on January 3, 1959! Alaska is located in the Northwest region of North America, bordering Canada. Russia controlled it until the United States bought the land in 1867 for about 7.2 (7,200,000.00) million dollars. Alaska is the largest state in the United States. About 731,545 people are living there. That is not many people for how big Alaska is by size.

Facts about Alaska:

1. Alaska is famous for its Northern Lights, glaciers, and gold mining. It is nicknamed "The Last Frontier." The state motto, "North to the Future," signifies that Alaska is a land of promise. The postal abbreviation for Alaska is AK.

2. Juneau has been the capital of Alaska since 1906 and has a population of approximately 32,227 residents.

3. The state bird of Alaska is the Willow Ptarmigan. This bird is renowned for its exceptional camouflage abilities. In winter, the Willow Ptarmigan turns entirely white, while during the warmer months, its feathers change to a blend of reds and browns.

4. The official state flower of Alaska is the forget-me-not, which is available in shades of blue, pink, purple, white, and yellow. They are beautiful flowers!

5. The Alaska state flag was first flown on July 9, 1927. It features seven gold stars that form the Big Dipper, along with an additional large gold star representing the North Star, symbolizing Alaska as the northernmost state in the Union. The blue background represents the color of the forget-me-not flower and the sky.

6. Alaska produces hay, dairy, beans, beets, broccoli, potatoes, and cauliflower. It has many nurseries and greenhouses.

7. Alaska is home to approximately 100,000 glaciers, covering about 5 percent (5%) of the state. Glaciers are large, massive sheets of ice. Here is a list of some of the glaciers in Alaska in alphabetical order:

Aialik Glacier
Dawes Glacier
Denver Glacier
Exit Glacier
Holgate Glacier
Hubbard Glacier
Johns Hopkins Glacier
Mendenhall Glacier
Ruth Glacier

These glaciers are awe-inspiring. With your caretaker or parent’s permission, Google the names of the glaciers and check them out!

8. Three types of bears live in Alaska: the black bear, the brown bear, and the polar bear.

9. Alaska is the coldest state in the United States. The weather and temperatures vary greatly depending on the region of Alaska. Typically, January is the coldest month, while July is the warmest. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Alaska was minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit at Prospect Creek on January 23, 1971. Conversely, the highest temperature recorded in the state was 100 degrees Fahrenheit in Fort Yukon on June 27, 1915.

Get your free printable Alaska worksheet here:

Alaska worksheet