Far above the contiguous states is a land where most of its residents must pass through another country to get to the capital city—Alaska. One of the biggest coups in American history, Alaska is a scenic state with both preserved natural forestry and endless rivers and lakes.
While the state is the biggest in the nation—bigger than Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas and Colorado combined—Alaska is home to approximately half a million people, making it the least most populated state. Many of the residents take part in the natural resources of the state, living in the mountains, on the coast or coastal islands.
When describing Alaska, it is broken into four sections, the Far North, Interior, Southwest and Southcentral. Far North area crosses the Arctic Circle and is home to diverse landscapes including the Arctic National Park and Preserve. The Artic Circle is home to the Inupiat Eskimos, who have lived there for generations. The interior section of the state is made up of forests and wildlife. In the city of Fairbanks and its surrounding areas, residents famously enjoy 20 hours of sunlight during the summer months. When the sun sets, residents enjoy the aurora borealis, providing a scenic backdrop for seasonal adventures. Winter months bring dog sledding, downhill and cross-country skiing and snow machine riding. The Southwest section includes Bristol Bay, home to the world's largest resource of salmon. The Southcentral section of the state is the most populated, housing more than half of the state's population. The largest city, Anchorage, is the center of commerce for the region, with fine cuisine, shopping and entertainment for its residents.
Overall, Alaskan students have a 95 % graduation rate and most all go to college, which can be attributed to its commitment to excellency in schools. While a vast number of students continue their studies out of state, but most attend University of Alaska in Fairbanks. The University of Alaska is home the world-famous Geophysical Institute, which operates both the Poker Flat rocket range and the Arctic Region Supercomputing Center.
