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Alaska is located as the westernmost point of the North American continent. Its east to west span covers around 2,000 miles and its north to south span covers around 1,100 miles. Alaska is the largest state in the United States.
Alaska is divided into four physiographic regions. They are the Arctic Lowlands, the coastal plain of the Arctic Ocean; the Rocky Mountain system, Brooks range is in the northernmost section; the Central Basins and Highlands region, which is dominated by the Yukon River Basin; and the Pacific Mountain system, this parallels Alaska's southern coast and rises to Mt. McKinley(the highest peak in North America).
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Map of Alaska
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Climate
Alaska has five major climate zones. The climate zones are: the maritime zone which consists of southeastern Alaska, the south coast, and the southwestern islands; the maritime continental zone which consists of the western portions of Bristol Bay and west central zones; a transition zone between the maritime and continental zones in the southern region of the Copper River zone, the Cook Island zone, and the northern extremes of the south coast zone; the continental zone which consists of the remainders of the Copper River and interior basins; and finally the arctic zone.
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Temperature
Mean annual temperatures range in the low 40's (F). In the central and eastern portions of the state there is a huge seasonal temperature contrast. During the summer months, temperatures average in the upper 70's. The highest recorded temperature was 100 degrees. In the winter months, temperatures average minus 20 to 30 degress. The coldest recorded temperature was minus 80 degrees.
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Northern Lights
Northern Lights, otherwise known as Aurora Borealis, occur as a result of solar particles colliding with the gases in Earth's atmosphere. |
Denali National Park
Denali National Park is home to Mt. McKinley, the highest point in North America. |
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