Alaska is often referred to as the last frontier, the last wild place in America. It truly is a remarkable and rugged place to visit, let alone live. It takes a certain kind of person, with a certain sense of adventure and toughness to make it out in the north like that. Now, don't be mistaken, Alaska has its share of modern conveniences and has everything that everyone is used to.

It's just that those things are limited to the larger cities and it is such a huge state that everything is so spread apart and seems so remote. It is thirteen times the size of England and is by far the largest state. It is the forty ninth state and was bought for a mere 14 million dollars in the nineteenth century. That works out to about two cents an acre. What a bargain, I am sure that Russia has been kicking itself ever since. Russia used the territory to hunt wild animals and for the fur trade, nearly wiping out the sea otters that are native to the area. It is home to Native Americans and Indian and Eskimo tribes.

The population is pretty scant considering the amount of land the state covers. What sets Alaska apart from every other state in the union is its natural beauty and natural resources. It has been nearly unspoiled by humans and is a vast land of natural riches. The highest mountains on the continent are in Alaska; it has many rivers and lakes and is home to many species of wildlife including bears, moose and elk.

The waters around Alaska are rich with fish and crab and are a necessary part of the countries food supply. Alaska is also rich in natural resources such as timber and oil. But that is best left for debate for someone else, what we care about is its unspoiled and natural beauty for visiting and enjoying. Alaska offers nearly every type of outdoor activity that you could imagine, from fishing and hunting to camping and canoeing. There is such an abundance of nature that narrowing it down could be your biggest problem.

The cities of the south, Juneau in particular are as metropolitan as any city that you would want to visit, and offer the amenities and services that you would need and require. It's when you start exploring and visiting the smaller towns and villages that you really get a feel for what the state is all about.