Photos

Here is the grand introduction to Alyeska - "The Great land".

Title is the nick name for this state. I don't think there are any words to describe the beauty of this place. Let me put it this way. If God wants to take a vacation, He would probably chose this place.

I have experienced the strangest things beginning from no dark nights of summer. Step outside of Anchorage, me and my wife were stunned by the untouched beauty of this landscape. throughout the scenic route to Seward is surrounded by hundreds of mountains with clouds as roof with scattered green and white blankets is a feast to our eyes. One needs lots and lots of time if we start stopping the car for every surprising spot. The highways of Alaska are mostly single lane with distributed passing lanes. At times we will be stuck behind a slowly driven Recreational vehicle but those are the great chances for you to take your eyes off the road and look around. its Serene. Its breathtaking and Magnificent.

My wife expressed this when she saw the snow patches on the dark mountains around us. She said it looks like giant dalmatians sitting around us. I would agree to it. Most of the mountains contains some form of ice or snow and it is marvelous to see them.

Having said that here are some facts.

Alaska State Population: 626,932
Alaska Area: 586,412 sq. mi. - two and a half times larger than Texas.
Entered the Union: 49th state on January 3rd, 1959

United States Secretary of State William H. Seward arranged a purchase from Russia for $7,200,000, or two cents per acre, for Alaska. The official cleared check is here

To guess the real size of alaska please visit this page to compare its size with the US mainland.

Anchorage is the biggest city and the 2nd big city is Fairbanks. Juneau is the state capital and is the only state capital that can be reached by boat or plane only. This is another strange thing I heard.

More weblinks about this place
http://www.welcometoalaska.com/facts.htm
http://plasma.nationalgeographic.com/places/states/state_alaska.html?source=G1213
http://www.alaskasbest.com/facts.htm
http://www.50states.com/facts/alaska.htm

There are more strangest things I've experienced. For eg., this is not the only landscape I experienced, TE members have to wait until I post my Arctic circle picture and a narration about the contrasting landscape.

Finally, spending a week there is quite expensive but the most valuable dollars I've ever spent.

Enjoy
Rajesh