Alaska is the northernmost state in the US. There are not many cities on its territory, and there are no large metropolitan areas at all.
Like every state in America, Alaska has a capital. But which city is the capital of Alaska? The answer to this question is contained in the text of the article.
State area
Alaska occupies a vast territory, which includes the Alaska Peninsula, a narrow strip in the northwest of the continent, the Aleutian Islands and the Alexander Archipelago. Alaska is an exclave separated from the US by Canada. The territory of the state is washed by two oceans: the Arctic from the north and the Pacific from the west and south. The Bering Strait in the west separates Alaska from the Russian Federation. The relief of the state is special. Along the coastline stretches a narrow strip of the Alaska Range, which is part of the world's greatest mountain range - the Cordillera. The ridge is known not only for its beautiful landscapes and huge glaciers, but also for the location on it of the highest peak in all of North America - Mount Denali.
The height of this mountain, also known as McKinley, is 6190 m. After the inland plateau comes the Brooks mountain range in the north of the state. climate, depending onareas, different: from the temperate maritime on the Pacific coast to the arctic continental in the depths of the peninsula. The Aleutian Islands also have mountainous terrain. On the peninsula itself there are active volcanoes: Katmai, Augustine, Cleveland, Pavlova volcano. The Redoubt volcano erupted as recently as 2009. The nature of Alaska is incredibly beautiful, despite the permafrost that covers a large area of the state.
The capital of Alaska: history
During the development of the territory by Russian pioneers at the turn of the 17th-19th centuries, the center of Alaska was the city of Novo-Arkhangelsk (now Sitka). Then it was the center of fur and whaling. After the sale of this territory to America, the same capital of Alaska, Sitka, remained. However, by the end of the 19th century, when the city ceased to be promising, the city of Juneau became the capital. Gold reserves were found here, then oil. Today, the capital of Alaska is Juneau.
The capital of Alaska: contentious issues
The capital is usually the largest city in terms of area and population. However, this principle does not apply in Alaska. The capital of the state of Alaska is far from the largest city: its population is about 35 thousand people. This peculiarity suggests that the state capital should be the city of Anchorage - the largest city in Alaska. In terms of population, it surpasses Juneau by almost ten times. The infrastructure of the city is much better developed than in the capital. So the question arises, is the capital of Alaska Anchorage or Juneau? The question of transferring the capital fromJuneau has been repeatedly raised by residents of Anchorage, but according to a poll, the population of other cities is against the transfer. Perhaps this is due to the fact that Juneau is located closer to the continental states.
Juneau-Anchorage Attractions
The capital of Alaska is a small town traditionally considered the administrative center of the state. There are few attractions in the city, as, for example, in Anchorage. Here you can visit the Alaska State Museum, which displays historical details of the native inhabitants of southeastern Alaska - the Tlingit, Russian history in Alaska and American domination. The church of St. Nicholas, located in the city, is interesting and original. This is an Orthodox church built at the end of the 19th century by the Tlingit who converted to Orthodoxy. An important role in the financial side of the life of the city is played by ecotourism in incredibly beautiful, virgin places of northern nature.
Anchorage, like a larger city, has more attractions. The Heritage Center, the Imaginarium, the Anchorage Cultural Center, the Botanical Garden, the Zoo and much more can be visited in Alaska's largest city. The city, which emerged as a key rail junction, is connected to every city in the state, so many tourist routes start here.
The unique location of the city - between two channels of Cook Inlet and the Chugach Mountains, makes it possible to simply enjoy the nature of the American North, visit nature reserves and large national parks of the state. Anchorage is located infour hundred kilometers from the world-famous Denali National Park, home to the highest point in North America.
