The Greatness of Alaska

The greatness of Alaska was not so immediately apparent when U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward negotiated the purchase of the territory from the Russians in 1867 for two cents an acre. Defying its namesake of “Seward's Folly,” Alaska was later admitted to the Union in 1959, and has since proven its value as the 49th state, providing the nation with access to a treasure trove of natural resources, including some of the largest oil and natural gas reserves in North America. The largest state in the country, Alaska's home to not only 730,000 inhabitants, but also to 229 federally recognized Alaska native tribes.

These groups, along with the prominent and dedicated military community, make up an integral part of the cultural and social patchwork that defines the very resilient spirit of the state and its citizens. Nearly one-third of Alaska lies within the Arctic Circle and is so large the state of Rhode Island could fit into Alaska 425 times. With names like Chicken, Deadhorse, Unalaska and North Pole, Alaska may have a monopoly on peculiar town names. But perhaps a little-known fact is that in 1942 the Imperial Japanese Navy invaded Alaska starting the year-long Aleutian Islands Campaign, the first battle fought on American soil since the Civil War.

Now as a resident of Alaska for 15 years, here are my top five reasons you should visit the "Land of the Midnight Sun." Number five, the Northern Lights: a brilliant natural light show caused by solar changes in the Earth's atmosphere, the aurora borealis or Northern Lights are only visible in the winter months. The unique solar display has been continuously inspiring to many Alaskan artists and authors over the years. Number four, the wildlife: don't let a grizzly scare you away.

Both on land and in sea, Alaska claims an array of wild animals; whales, polar bears, bald eagles and even wolverines are only a few of many diverse species that call Alaska home. But you won't find any snakes here. Alaska’s characteristically cold climate only allows for a couple types of reptiles and amphibians. Number three, the outdoor activities: Alaskans love the great outdoors. Whether it’s hiking Hatcher's Pass, dipnetting on the Kenai River or skiing in Girdwood, the rugged landscape of Alaska allows for a variety of outdoor activities in both the summer and winter months. The annual Alaska State Fair at the end of the summer showcases the best of Alaskan artisan crafts and locally grown produce including its well-known Giant Cabbage Weigh-off competition.

The Iditarod, historically known as the “Last Great Race,” is the highlight of the winter season, and tests both mushers’ and dogs’ physical and mental endurance as they race nearly 1,000 miles through the Alaskan wilderness from Willow to Nome. The winter months also bring the historic Fur Rendezvous Festival in late February. Keeping to tradition, this largest winter festival in North America has been an Alaskan staple since 1935. Events include the official Fur Rondy Fur Auction, the Running of the Reindeer and the Mr. Fur Face beard contest. Number two, the food and I'm not just talking about Baked Alaska.

Because of its proximity to the pristine waters of the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea, Alaska has some of the finest seafood in the world whether it's fresh Chinook salmon, halibut - my favorite - or monster king crab legs, Alaskan seafood should not be missed. Large game animals like moose, bear, caribou, and reindeer also add to the unique flavors of Alaskan cuisine. Something distinctively Alaskan is sourdough bread brought to the region during the Klondike Gold Rush in the 1800s.

A “sourdough,” a nickname for a seasoned gold prospector, would carry the bread starter in a necklace around their neck in order to prevent the yeast from freezing in the cold winter conditions, so fresh bread was always available. In Alaska, sourdough bread is as common and as well-loved as apple pie. And, number one, the landscape: perhaps the single draw for residents and tourists alike is the rugged and untamed beauty of the state's landscape. Alaska, with its over 571,000 square miles of land, has a diverse geography.

In the Panhandle, near the capital city of Juneau, the Tongass National Forest, the largest national forest in the U.S., dominates the region with its fjords, glaciers, and temperate rainforests. The Aleutian Islands located in the western part of Alaska, stretch 1,200 square miles over the Bering Sea and are comprised of 14 large volcanic islands and around 55 smaller islands. In South-central Alaska, where I'm from, mountains, thick patches of forest and endless coastline define the landscape. In the interior, the Denali National Park and Preserve is home to Mount McKinley or Denali. The highest point in North America.

Mountains, vast tundra, and winding rivers stretch up through the interior, past Fairbanks, and all the way to the northernmost town of Barrow. So that's my list. If you have an adventurous spirit, a natural curiosity for the unexplored, and a good pair of hiking boots, take my word for it and visit Alaska, the Last Frontier, and make a list of your own.

Easy Baked Alaska Recipe

Hello folks it is Barry here welcome to my virgin kitchen that is not going to work Boston leave the monkey toy alone today we are going to make beaked haha not beaked Alaska that would be baked Alaska using duck beaks or something like that, no. Today we are making baked Alaska I am trying to make it idiot proof baked Alaska and if you follow me on twitter you will already know I have been stood here going ugh, like an idiot trying to work out first steps but it should hopefully be pretty easy and you guys can have a go too if you would like to have a try hit pause on the video write down all of these ingredients they are also in the description box down below and on my website and remember I am self taught so if I can make this you definitely can lets get cracking.

We are going to start off by making our meringue ok so this is a stand mixer you can always just use an electric whisk the most important thing are these egg whites right here they have been stood at room temperature it is really important to have room temperature egg whites, we are also going to add in with them some cream of tartar we will tip that in too about 2 teaspoons of that it helps to stiffen the whites, we will gradually add our sugar in just a minute but lets get this one going. Alrighty you can see by the way it is clinging on there it is time to add in the sugar what we are going to do is add it in gradually ok so I am just going to do about a quarter at a time so in goes our first batch straight back down and we whip away. Amazing times it has held the shape so well it has got the shape of the whisk, cool.

Right then lets put that meringue to one side with a baked Alaska traditionally you can have a cake sponge so on a cake a flan something like that I wanted to make this so simple that I went to a supermarket and bought a cookie ok so a standard size cookie sat on my cake stand dj cookie in the house dj cookie so what we will do is the base of an ice cream ken and jennys if you use that brand ken and jennys should hopefully fit that perfectly on there we need to act fast before we make it we smother it in the meringue and complete the Alaska mission sounds like something from james bond. So hopefully this will work we will get cracking right now ok lets do this lets get the ice cream from the freezer I have already taken it out of the ken and jenny packaging.

There it is my friends, look it is like a sandcastle. Right I need to work fast at this. I am going to get my meringue on top and encase and cover it as quickly as possible ok we need to make sure that every single smudging of the ice cream including the base is covered in the meringue maybe to get off those loose edges just a little bit of kitchen towel it does that quite nicely, so if you like I do not know why I feel like doing this but I am going to make it spikey by pushing my knife against it and getting that sort of like prickly effect on it yes, prickly.

I am super happy with how that has turned out I have put it on a plate for the moment as I am going to sit it in the freezer to hold its shape, in fact if you were going to store it it is at this stage where you would store it and make ahead or if you want to bake it shove it in the oven at the hottest temperature for like ten seconds but we are going to blowtorch ours, lets freeze it first though. So this freezer step is optional it is just for me when I am filming in here and with the heat of the lights it would have melted by now right, alright mate, right. Alright guys it is blowtorch time I love that effect is that not the coolest thing in the world, so I am going to work my way around this getting some of the edges too loving it.

Amazing now again if you like you can store in the freezer until ready to eat it but I am going to eat it right now. We should just take a minute to appreciate this but it is very hot so we should crack on, oh my gosh check that out. That is pure heaven bare in mind that is a whole tub of ice cream in here so you do not probably want to eat it on your own I am not saying you cannot but lets have a taste of this. Here we go, oh my gosh. Right I have to put this in the freezer for mrs barry I really hope you give this a go folks, you always send me pictures on twitter and Instagram and I am loving it so please keep them coming in, check out my last two videos on the screen right now let me know down below anything you want to see next see you later guys give this a go you are going to love it.

National Awareness Day - Alaska Day

That united states bought alaska from russia, and i want to read some facts about alaska that maybe you don't know. We should learn more about it. It's the largest state in the united states. 90% of the world's sea otters live in alaska, and at first the-- they didn't think that the russians wanted to sell it, but then someone said, "i don't know if they're interested, but i'll-ask-a.

Obviously i don't know a lot about alaska, but we have reality shows that are teaching us, so it's time to learn something with something we're calling great moments in alaska. This is a great moment from the show "gold rush alaska." maybe there's something wrong with this pan. It's just yellow rocks. And the worst part about it is, gold isn't yellow all the time. Gold is brown. Gold is pink. Gold has a reddish color. And then to top it all off, i'm color-blind. So he doesn't know.

Maybe he found gold or dirt or a grizzly bear. They all look grayish-brown. Here's another great moment from alaska state troopers. How we doing today, guys? Is there a problem back there on the road? Why are you yelling? Why are you screaming at me as you drive by and then almost go in the ditch? You were. What's--what's the story? Okay, "no sirs"? You sound drunk, and you smell drunk. Step out of the car. Come on out, partner. You got any weapons on you? Come back here. Keep your hands out of your pocket. What a guy. And it gets worse, 'cause right after that, he was pulled over by the fashion police as well, so...

Vsauce on Investigating Alaska - Behind Field Day

My name is Michael Stevens, I'm the creator of the Vsauce network of channels which is now three channels strong we investigate all kinds of curious cool things about the world whether they be scientific, "What if the earth suddenly stop spinning" or based on human achievement "what is the shortest poem in the world" I wanna find questions that haven't really been answered very well. "when are we gonna run out of names."

When the opportunity to work with Field Day came up I was really excited. Sought as a a chance to try out different groove than usual not the Michael looking right into the camera telling you everything that he's researched that in the last two weeks. "Hey, Vsauce, Michael here". I wanna be more conversational and I want to be more explorational "What do you think draws such a diverse group of people to Whittier?" you to live a life that you want to live. Showing rather than telling. it's pretty mind-blowing to be inside of a mountain. For field day I went to a little town in alaska called Whittier. Whittier is not a big city it's not accessible by international airport, it is not even accessible by car except by a two-and-a-half mile long tunnel that only goes one way.

Its about as remote in sealed off as you can get but its beautiful the 200 so people who live there permanently all live in one building. What Whittier can tell us about how we define home, how we define being remote and how we can define humans are all things I want to explore in Whittier. your the whole town was in one building that weird to you? I've learned a lot about myself, am I an interviewer?

Am I explorer, am I the eyes and ears of the audience? And Field Day gave me a chance to feel out what it is that I'm good at, and what kinda things I'd like to be better. I hope that when people watch this video that I made in Whittier, they get scared at first and then they get existential about their own lives their own homes, their own habitats. And then they just feel really proud to be a human.

Ground-Truthing Permafrost in Alaska

Permafrost covers roughly a quarter of the entire northern hemisphere. Unfortunately, it's also located in the most remote and hard-to-get-to places so very few people actually have been to a permafrost region. Because of that, it's often overlooked. Permafrost contains a huge amount of frozen organic matter. There's twice as much carbon frozen in the permafrost as there is in the atmosphere today. As this permafrost thaws out, so to will the organic matter. Which will decay and release carbon dioxide and methane to the atmosphere. this will amplify warming due to the burning of fossil fuels. Temperatures are rising twice as fast in the high latitudes as it is for the global average. So permafrost right now is beginning to warm up and its starting to thaw out We went up to Toolik lake to do ground penetrating radar surveys to measure the thaw depth of the permafrost, and we did this in order to validate our satellite radar product.

What we measure from space with satellite radar is actually the frost heave as the surface layer freezes and thaws. As water in the surface freezes it expands, and the ground goes up and as it thaws in the summer, the ground goes down. That tells us how much water has frozen and melted in the active layer, or the thawing layer. We have to make sure that what we actually measure from space is, in fact really what we think it is and we do that using a ground penetrating radar. This is a radar that is about the size of a shoe box and you drag it along on the tundra and it sends out a signal and it reflects off the frozen permafrost and comes back and it tells us the thaw depth. It's very important to know how much ice is actually in the permafrost. Permafrost, you can visualize it as frozen dirt, but within the permafrost there is a huge amount of ice in the form of layers, and lenses, and wedges, and blocks. Of course, when the permafrost thaws out, this ice melts and drains away and the soil collapses. So it's extremely important to know how much ice is actually in the permafrost.

When talking about permafrost and permafrost change, there's two things that we look at one is the temperature within the permafrost at various depths, and the second is the depth of the active layer now as temperatures have been going up due to climate change the active layer has been getting thicker which means its thawing deeper and deeper, but the bigger response is the permafrost itself. Permafrost itself actually takes a long time to respond to changes in climate and the key think to realize about that is that as the temperature temperature of the permafrost goes up nothing is going to happen to that permafrost until it reaches zero degrees centigrade. The permafrost temperatures right now deep down are actually still responding to little ice age 600 years ago So as climate changes now permafrost is changing, but it's always going to be slow, it's always going to take a long time. So its going to take a couple of hundred years for this to thaw out, decay, and release the carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. So it's going to take a long time, but also, once it starts, it can't stop.

Hanukkah Celebration in Alaska

I really love reading, but most of all, I like reading to other people, people younger than me. So maybe if you have a little brother or a little sister or a little cousin, or even a younger classmate, try reading to them. It's really fun. In Alaska, in winter, we have to watch out for moose. We have to look both ways when we go out the door, making sure there are no moose around. That's because moose are very big, and they kick things that surprise them or make them angry. Their big kicks are strong enough to dent a car. My mother drives slowly in the winter, looking out for moose.

When my friends and I are playing outside and a moose comes along, we have to hug a tree. A moose can't step on you or knock you over if you're hugging a tree. Also, during winter in Alaska, it's dark. Not just at night for sleeping, but almost all the time. It doesn't get light until it's already snack time at school, and it's dark again practically right after lunch. Daytime is only five hours long. And sometimes, when there's so much snow that it covers up the windows, daylight can barely peek in. Alaska snow piles up everywhere. It gets so deep that the moose with their skinny legs have trouble walking in it. They like to use people's shoveled driveways and paths. That's why a moose lives in our backyard.

He wandered up our driveway, found a good spot where he could nibble at our trees, and decided to stay. He sleeps in our yard and eats our trees. I try throwing carrots to him, even cookies, but he really likes the tree with my blue swing on it. I'm worried about my swing. Once, we saw a moose walking around town with a swing in his antlers. He'd gotten tangled and just tore the whole swing away.

I think the dark and that moose are making me kind of grumpy, because even Hanukkah hasn't cheered me up. My friends and I pretend to be dreidels spinning in the snow, and when the mail lady comes, she always has another present for me from my aunts and uncles Outside. But every time I light a new candle in our menorah, I look out the window and it's still dark, and that moose is still there, too close to my swing and eating our trees. My mother and I throw some apples, hoping he'll like them instead, but he just watches them fall and eats more tree. One night as I am lighting the last Hanukkah candle, my father says, "Let's go outside. I have something to show you." "With the moose there?" "Don't worry, we'll stay far away."

I put on my long underwear and two layers of socks. I put on my thick, baggy pants... ...and a sweatshirt. I put a snowsuit on over all that, two layers of mittens, and a hat. Still, it's freezing cold outside, and it's very dark, and I do not like being anywhere near that moose. I want that moose away from my swing! "Dad, what are we waiting for?" "Just wait. You'll see." But he's looking at the sky. I'm looking at that moose. Mom says, "Maybe we can try some fresh spinach. Maybe he'll leave your swing alone for something green."

But the spinach doesn't work, and I'm freezing. Dad says, "This is a perfect night. You'll see." Suddenly, dad points up to the sky. There are pink and purple and orange ribbons of light! The sky is full of color, all swirling and shining and glowing. Against the dark black of the sky, the lights are bright and beautiful. I have never seen anything like this. So much light, and so big. Filling the sky, coloring the sky. A rainbow on black velvet. "They're called the northern lights," Dad says. "Aurora borealis. They happen especially up here in Alaska, but only when the sky is just right. Our very own Hanukkah Festival of Lights."

It looks like ribbons of wax, all the candles from all the menorahs, melting into the dark, lighting it up. I stare at those lights. I stare so hard, I don't even notice the moose sticking his head through my swing. Next thing I know, the moose is yanking on the chain, pulling on the whole tree. I can't stand it. That moose will tear everything up. But then I have an idea. I run into the house and run back outside with my hands full. I wave what I have at the moose, and he sniffs, turning his head away from the swing. I back up, laying what I have down in the snow. The moose stretches his head, reaches for it. I keep backing up, laying more down, and the moose follows me!

Out of the yard, down the driveway, AWAY! I lay the last batch down and race back into our yard. I look at the sky, at the lights. I'm so happy to see those lights. I'm so happy that moose is gone. My parents are surprised. "What did you feed him?" they ask. "What did he like so much?" "Latkes," I answer. Hanukkah can be pretty funny in Alaska, and miracles can happen in a lot of different ways. And that's the end. If you've never had latkes, you have to try them. They're pancakes, but they're made out of potatoes. But make sure you have a grown-up to help you out because you have to use very hot oil. My dad makes them with zucchini, so they are a little healthier. They are really tasty.

Amenities aboard the Alaska Marine Highway

You’ll find travelling aboard an Alaska ferry is an informal way to cruise Alaska waters, but a few onboard amenities can make your trip even more enjoyable. When it comes to meals there are a number of options available. All vessels offer meal and beverage service. You'll find healthy hot and cold meals of Alaska seafood, salads, sandwiches, and beverages served throughout the day with vending machines on hand for those late night snacks. Meals on the Marine Highway are a laid back affair. It's the perfect time to relax with family and friends while enjoying the ever changing scenery just outside.

Most vessels have cocktail lounges that feature a casual social atmosphere and a variety of beverages. Many vessels have theater areas that show feature films as well as documentaries about Alaska and the outdoors. Observation lounges and enclosed heated solariums offer excellent vantage points from which to view Alaska's scenic wonders; and when you are ready to learn more about the area, experts from the US Forest Service and US Fish and Wildlife Service are often on board to give presentations about the abundant marine animals, birds, plants, and other wildlife.

Onboard gift shops offer souvenirs, magazines and informative books about Alaska. In addition some vessels have card rooms, reading rooms, small video arcades and play areas for children. We hope these onboard amenities make your trip more comfortable, but we know you'll enjoy the hospitality of our crew and friendliness of our passengers. ers.

The story of the building of the trans-Alaska pipeline

Oil, hot crude, flows from the richest wells on the frozen arctic shore. So much effort at such great cost to be ready to carry a 12 million barrel daily capacity. It took $8 billion, 20,000 workers, 12-hour days, and 7-day weeks, to finish it in three years, inside the deadline. First, they built the road, 360 miles long, supplying 30 construction camps, using extra gravel to insulate the permafrost. Then they needed supports to raise up the pipeline to prevent it from heating up the ground. Half of the pipeline rests on 78,000 supports, 60 feet apart.

It's a new design for constructing to be part of the land so caribou can march under it, and earthquakes can rock and sway it. Then the pipe; 70,000 sections joined and laid, then buries or raised, crossing 3 mountain ranges, 800 riverbeds, tundra, forests, and lakes, all the way from the arctic to the pacific. And now, from the richest oil field in America, 35,000 gallons of oil can flow every minute through a 48-inch pipe stretched 800 miles, the length of Alaska, to the ice-free port of Valdez. In April, 1974, it began with the haul road, and on August 1, 1977, this film documented the first tanker leaving for the south, full of oil.

Trail Hunter in Alaska

First time I heard about riding here, I was on a camping trip in Mexico in this remote area on this beach. We hadn't seen anyone in days. And here's this like wild-looking guy rolls up, and he's got Alaska plates. And he's like, yeah, I own a bike shop up there. And it's in a train car. And I was like don't know if this guy's for real or what.

But, I got to know a little bit better and he started telling me a bit more about his hometown. He said, oh yea, one time, like, 15 years ago, we won an award for Bike Magazine's trail of the year. And that really got my attention. I was like what. Like, I hadn't heard about any really good riding in Alaska. Eventually, just had to come check it out so we pulled this crew together, and here we are.

Steven Rinella Catches and Cooks Seafood in Alaska

I've got this feast to enjoy. Prepping it couldn't be simpler: just get some water boiling in a big pot, and do not skimp on the salt. My neighbor over here who first introduced me to all this likes to salt his water boiling craft until it's like as salty as the ocean.

It like really brings out the sweetness in the crabs somehow by adding salt it gets sweetness. I don't understand the chemistry of it, but I'm a believer in it. Do this for about 10 minutes. And then I'm going to add these guys in, got a little butter melting. And these Dungeness crab man, I'll dip it in butter, but it doesn't even need butter. It's just so, there's just a lot of substance in crab.

These shrimp the texture on them is like a meatier texture part of that has to do with being fresh, but these are nice and meaty and firm. Give that a dip. I mean this tastes like a great version of shrimp you know. And this is like, this is like dream. Take em' like this if you've never had Dungeness, you should try them sometime. It's just it's crab for sure, but it's glorified crab. It's like every good thing about crab is in this crab. Blue mussel, and these are clean and nice man.