Katmai National Park: Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes In 1912, in the southeastern region of Alaska, the largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century took place. This event, considered the 5th largest eruption in the world on record, was cataclysmic. Before the event, this area, a river valley native peoples used as a passage point, was a watershed region for a few small fishing communities. The volcano was named [...]
Lynx and Arctic Fox of Alaska Expansive terrain and an abundance of natural resources offer the space and environment necessary for more specialized species to thrive. The Arctic Fox and Lynx are two species that resemble the animals we see and observe in the lower region of the northern continent. These species are both specialized and adapted to the arctic regions of Alaska and Canada. [...]
Alaska's New Whale Species In the summer of 2023, a team of researchers set out to create high-resolution mapping of the deep sea floor near the Aleutian Islands. These scientists partner with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to make this possible. These scientists have traveled thousands of feet deep into this coastal region using high-tech equipment and measuring instruments. In their exploration, it seems a new species [...]
Alaskan Arctic Water Marine Biology Seven different bay regions exist in Alaska. These regions have five different Alaska marine biology ecosystems classified within them: Gulf of Alaska, Eastern Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, Beaufort Sea, and Chukchi Sea. (NOAA) Bay areas and coastal regions provide ideal ecosystems and habitats for global marine food chains to stabilize, grow, and thrive. Ocean biomes, characterized by their abundance of food sources and diversity, [...]
Owls in Alaska Alaska has abundant food sources and untouched wilderness areas for many apex predators. And even with consideration to large birds of prey like the eagle and hawk, owls are some of the most skilled hunters to navigate these wilds. Because of their elusive nature, it takes a focused and patient observer to learn more about them. Some of us have experienced the reaction we feel when [...]
Elemental Opposites Alaska is home to not only the most glaciers in the Northern continent, it is also known for it's density of volcanoes. There are 54 that are considered 'active', meaning they have erupted within the last 300 years. With non-active (dormant) volcanoes, there are over 130 in Alaska. Some of them are even active today and many of these volcanoes have been etched by glacier moving across [...]
Alaska is well known for its stunning natural beauty and boasts eight National Parks across the state. In addition to these national parks and preserves, Alaska has an abundance of State Parks scattered across the state as well. Now, I understand that 'State Park' might not have the same ring as 'National Park'. You don't want to overlook these state parks during your next trip. Being as big as it is, [...]
Like all places, spring is a transition time and Alaska is no different. Many know Alaska to be the 'land of the midnight sun', however summer is not the only time of year The Last Frontier shines! As the short, cold winter days fade away Alaska starts to come alive in the spring. Believe it or not, by early March most of the state has close to 11 hours of [...]
The Alaska Railroad Trains had been around for almost a century by the time Alaska got its first railroad in 1903. The Alaskan wilderness has never been easy to navigate, so the founding of the Alaska Railroad helped to connect various parts of Alaska and has grown into a great recreational and commercial transportation option. The history of the Alaska Railroad was full of interesting obstacles. History The [...]
In each year, there must be a longest day and a shortest day. This is called a Solstice. There is a Summer Solstice in June and a Winter Solstice in December. What is a Solstice? Scientifically speaking, the solstice is the day in which the sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky marking the start of summer and winter respectively. The Summer solstice is the day with the [...]
