Alaska facts - by travel authority Howard Hillman

My Alaska cruise tips
Best cruise ships by category
Best 4 Alaska cruise ports to visit
Best time to go - plus getting there

Alaska shore excursion rankings
Best shore excursions - overview
Helicopter tours
Floatplane tours
Best 3 Juneau shore excursions
Best 3 Ketchikan shore excursions
Best 3 Sitka shore excursions
Best 3 Skagway shore excursions

Best pre- & post-cruise excursions
Denali National Park
Goldstar Dome railroad ride
More pre- and post-cruise options

More Alaska cruise tips
Best glaciers
Famous Alaskan foods
Itinerary insights
Alaska facts & tidbits
Packing tips

Candid cruise advice
Best cruise lines by category
29 cruise lines - descriptions
Top 10 destinations
Cabin selection
Cruise costs
Booking advice
Shore excursions
Cruise pros & cons
Cruise dining insights
Family cruising tips
Cruise etiquette
Ship communications
Cruise industry - facts

What it's like on a
luxury Alaska cruise ship
Why the Silver Shadow is special
Top activities
Dining
Dinner menus
Crew photo gallery
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Deck plans
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Silver Shadow facts
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Alaska
facts & tidbits

pointers you can trust

Conversation pieces

A day ahead

The far-western Aleutian Islands of Alaska were once a day ahead of the rest of Alaska. Reason: Those islands lie west of 180° latitude, which originally determined the International Dateline.

To avoid confusion, the International Dateline was bent directly west of those islands (see map). This geographical adjustment put the islands on a same-day basis with the rest of Alaska.

Alaska the name

It derives from Alyeska, a native word meaning "Great Land". Alaska's nickname is "the last frontier".

Coastline

Alaska has more coastline than collectively those of the other 49 states combined.

Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)

They exist 365 days a year. But don't expect to see them during the long-day summer because the northern-reaching sun lightens the night sky sufficiently for most human eyes to perceive them. But you may be lucky, especially in late September.

Most famous Alaskan resident

Sarah Palin, McCain's 2009 vice presidential running mate.

Most famous Alaskan sport

Dog racing. The Iditarod is the most prestigious and internationally known race.

Lower 48

Alaskans freely use this term to define the other 48 continental USA states.

Bargain of the century

America bought Alaska from the Russians in 1867 for just $7,200,000.

Size

Alaska is twice as big as Texas. More than 400 Rhode Islands could fit into Alaska.

Totem poles

They tell family or tribal histories and not, as some people believe, tributes to gods.