Maps of Alaska
By Caroline Alden | August 21, 2024
Alaska is the largest state in the United States, located at the extreme northwest corner of North America. It spans over 663,268 square miles. The state features diverse landscapes like mountains, glaciers, forests, tundra, and coastline. Bordered by Canada to the east and maritime borders with Russia to the west, Alaska offers a rich geographic tapestry.
The state hosts several impressive glaciers, such as Hubbard Glacier, Mendenhall Glacier, and Columbia Glacier. These natural formations have played a crucial role in shaping the landscape through the movement of ice and sediment.
Alaska is also home to the largest national park in the United States, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. This park is located in the eastern region and showcases the unique tundra ecosystem, characterized by permafrost and treeless plains. The state’s terrain is further divided into five distinct regions: the Arctic Coastal Plain, Brooks Range, Interior Plains and Plateaus, Alaska Range, and the Aleutian Islands. Each region offers its own unique features and wildlife, making Alaska a truly distinctive and fascinating state.
Counties Map
Alaska is divided into 29 counties. These counties, listed in alphabetical order, are:
- Aleutians East
- Aleutians West
- Anchorage
- Bethel
- Bristol Bay
- Denali
- Dillingham
- Fairbanks North Star
- Haines
- Hoonah Angoon
- Juneau
- Kenai Peninsula
- Ketchikan Gateway
- Kodiak Island
- Lake and Peninsula
- Matanuska-Susitna
- Nome
- North Slope
- Northwest Arctic
- Petersburg
- Prince of Wales-Hyder
- Sitka
- Skagway
- Southeast Fairbanks
- Valdez-Cordova
- Wade Hampton
- Wrangell
- Yakutat
- Yukon Koyukuk
Anchorage is the largest and most populous city in Alaska, located on a peninsula in the south-central part of the state. It serves as the major commercial and economic center.
Juneau, the capital city of Alaska, is situated in the extreme southeastern part of the state. It lies at the base of Mount Juneau on the Gastineau Channel. Government services, tourism, and fishing are important to its economy.
Alaska’s vast area makes it the largest state in the USA, covering 1,717,856 square kilometers. Despite its size, it is the third least populous state in the country. The diverse landscape includes mountains, forests, and coastal regions.
Where is Alaska?
Alaska is in the far northwestern part of North America. To the north, it touches the Beaufort Sea and the Arctic Ocean.
Bordering Areas:
- East and southeast: Canada (British Columbia and Yukon)
- South and southwest: Gulf of Alaska and Pacific Ocean
- West: Bering Sea, Bering Strait, and Russia
- Northwest: Chukchi Sea
Alaska is the only U.S. state separated from the rest of the country by another nation, Canada. This unique position gives it a mix of coastal and wilderness areas, making it distinct and diverse.
Outline Map of Alaska
The outline map of Alaska shows the boundaries and key geographical features of the state. When looking at the map, one sees the distinctive shape that separates it from other U.S. states.
Key Points to Notice:
- Alaska is located in the far northwestern corner of North America.
- The map highlights the coastlines, which are rugged and uneven.
Educational Uses:
- The map can be downloaded, printed, and used for educational activities.
- It’s ideal for geography lessons, such as map-pointing and coloring.
Activities:
- Map-Pointing: Identify major cities like Anchorage and Fairbanks.
- Coloring: Use different colors to show various regions of Alaska.
This map serves as a useful tool for understanding the basic layout of the state and its key features.
Key Facts
Major Cities | Population |
---|---|
Legal Name | State of Alaska |
ISO Code | US-AK |
Capital City | Juneau |
Population | About 730,000 (2024 estimate) |
Largest City | Anchorage |
Year of Statehood | 1959 |
Area | 663,300 square miles |
Bordering Country | Canada |
Bordering Body of Water | Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean |
Time Zones | Alaska Time Zone and Hawaii-Aleutian Time Zone |
Highest Point | Denali (20,310 feet) |
Lowest Point | Pacific Ocean (sea level) |
Climate | Varies from arctic in the north to temperate in the south |
Nicknames | The Last Frontier, Land of the Midnight Sun |
State Bird | Willow Ptarmigan |
State Flower | Forget-Me-Not |
State Tree | Sitka Spruce |
Major Industries | Oil, fishing, tourism |
Famous Natural Features | Glaciers, fjords, vast wilderness areas |
Largest National Park | Wrangell-St. Elias National Park |
Number of Native Tribes | Over 20 distinct groups |
Motto | North to the Future |