Region s of Alaska

The Arctic Northernmost Alaska

Cli mat e “The Alaskan Arctic has an average January temperature of –13 °F (–25 °C). Its average July temperature is 44 °F (7 °C). Annual precipitation is low.” - World Book Encyclopedia Online Permafrost No Trees Tundra (carpeted with wild flowers and course grasses) Permafrost

Geography : Northernmost Communities Prudhoe Bay Point Hope Barrow Prudhoe Bay These communities center around science and natural resources.

Geography : Physical Features Brooks Range and the Arctic Ocean are the most commonly known physical features of the Alaskan Arctic. Brooks Range as seen by one of the North’s largest populations--caribou. Brooks Range is approximately 700 miles long.

Populatio n The two areas in the Alaskan Arctic with the highest populations contain 2-5 people per square mile. These communities are Barrow and Prudhoe Bay. Approximately people live in the Arctic of Alaska.

Demograph ics Gender Race Employment

Industry and Economy The Arctic’s most popular traded goods are: Oil Gas Coal Reindeer Various Metals

Fun Facts ! There are 37 land mammal species in the Arctic All 3 types of North American bear species live in the Arctic.

More Fun Facts ! A hot summer day in the Arctic would peak at 59⁰ F. In Barrow, Alaska, the sun doesn’t set for about 80 days in the summer. During the winter, it stays below the horizon for about two months. Alaska’s famous pipeline starts in the Arctic at Prudhoe Bay The North Slope Borough is home to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

The Interior

Climate The Interior sets the records for both the coldest winters (-79.8⁰ F) and hottest summers (100⁰F) recorded in the state of Alaska. Average highs and lows settle around 70⁰F and -20⁰F, however temperatures can be much more drastic than this—often peeking at 90⁰ F in the summer and dropping to -45⁰ F in the winter.

Geography : Interior Communities Tanana Fairbanks Nenana Interesting Facts: Fairbanks is the 2 nd largest city in Alaska and the largest city in the Interior. Much of the Interior is referred to as the Tanana Valley. The cities of Interior Alaska were mostly founded on the Gold Rush.

Geography : Physical Features The Yukon rates as the nation’s third longest river. Denali National Park is home to North America’s highest mountain: Mount McKinley

Population and Demographics Approximately 115,114 people live in Interior Alaska. Gender Race Age

Industry and Economy Natural Resources: Mining Gold Oil and Gas Forestry Local Agriculture Gold mining has played a key role in Interior Alaska’s History. Fairbanks local farmers at Rosie Creek Farm Industries of Fairbanks: Military University and Government Jobs Tourism Service Industries Construction

Fun Facts ! Interior Alaska is home to Denali National Park, which contains North America’s tallest mountain—Mount McKinley. Interior Alaska experiences drastic temperature changes, and can easily swing over eighty degrees Fahrenheit in less than a week. Interior Alaska has many tourist attractions, including riverboats, gold mines, ice carving, and festivals.

South Central

Climate The climate of the South Central is mild, ranging from the low 60⁰s in the summer to low 20⁰s in the winter. Daylight hours during the winter and summer do not vary as much along the Southern boarder of Alaska as they do further north. Still, the length of days vary from season to season.

Geography : South - central Communities Glennallen Palmer Anchorage Valdez Cordova Kenai Homer Kodiak Communities of South-central Alaska include: South-central Alaska is home to the state’s largest city: Anchorage.

Geography : Physical Features The Alaska Range acts as a boarder between Interior and South- central Alaska. Kodiak Island is Alaska’s largest island. Lake Iliamna is the largest lake in Alaska.

Population and Demographics South-central Alaska has a population of approximately persons. Gender

Industry and Economy Anchorage Top Industries Government Transportation Oil Military Tourism Kodiak Island is well known for its commercial fishing.

Interesting Facts ! Valdez is the northernmost ice-free port in the U.S. Fifty years ago South-central Alaska was hit with the U.S.’s biggest earthquake in history, measuring 9.2 on the Richter scale. 131 people were killed. Kodiak Island’s grizzlies are among the world’s largest bears.

West and South-west

Cli mat e South-west Alaska’s climate is known for being rather wet and windy due to the collision of warm and cold ocean currents nearby. This often causes the south-west islands to be shrouded in fog. Temperatures range from about 0⁰s in the winter to the low 60⁰s in the summer. Further up in the North- West portion of Alaska, such as Kotzebue and Nome, the temperatures are much colder.

Geography – West and South - west Communities Kotzebue Nome Unalakleet Bethel Dutch Harbor Attu There are no big cities located in West and South-west Alaska.

Geog rap hy — The Diomede Islands are located within the Bering Strait and act as a mark of separation between the boarders of Alaska and Russia. The Aleutian chain is about 1,100 miles long and consists of fourteen large islands and more than fifty-five small ones.

Population and Demographics West and South-west Alaska combined have a population of approximately 55,800. Gender Age Pie charts cover only the South-west population. Race

Industry and Economy South-west Industries: Seafood Oil Gas Tourism Western Industries (Primarily Nome): Gold mining Tourism

Fun Facts ! The Island of Attu was captured by Japanese troops during WWII, resulting in the only land battle fought in North America during the war. In Western Alaska there are very few roads, making transportation difficult. The most practical way to travel in this area would be to fly. St. Lawrence Island is home to over 2.7 million seabirds during nesting season.

South East

Climate Southeast Alaska is known for having a wet and rainy climate. Southeast’s Inside Passage has the highest amount of precipitation, as well as the highest average year-round temperatures, in the state of Alaska. Temperature differences vary little, seldom dropping below 10⁰ in the winter or rising above 60⁰ in the summer.

Geography — South - east Communities * Juneau is Alaska’s state capital. Skagway Haines Yakutat Juneau Sitka Petersburg Wrangell Ketchikan

Geography : Physical Features Tongass National Forest is America’s northernmost rainforest. The Inside Passage is a maze of ocean pathways that weave around the various islands of South-eastern Alaska.

Population and Demographics Approximately people live in Southeast Alaska

Industry and Economy Tourism Fishing Forestry Mining Maritime Transportation Government

Fun Facts ! Southeast Alaska is home to puffins! Whales and sea otters are popular wildlife viewed by tourists in this area. Though often thought of as all over Alaska, the Southeast is the primary spot for Native American totem poles.

Thanks for Watching! The End