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Map of Alaska The Government Doesn’t Want You To See

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Map of Alaska The Government Does not Want You To See
The map of Alaska above and the maps below are part of the US government’s now closed NationalAtlas.gov project.

However, they are too good to be lost forever so I’ve preserved them here.

You can learn more about the project and why it was closed down here.

Satellite Map Of Alaska

Satellite Map Alaska

General Alaska State Information

Demonym: Alaskan
State Abbreviation: AK
Year Admitted To US: 1959
State Number (Out of 50): 49th
State Capital: Juneau
Total Area: 665,384 sq mi (1,723,337 km2)
State Area Ranking (Out of 50): 1st
Highest Point: Denali – 20,310 ft (6,190.5 m)
Lowest Point: 0 ft (0 m)
State Website: https://alaska.gov/

List of Interstate Highways In Alaska

  • I-A-1
  • I-A-2
  • I-A-3
  • I-A-4

List of US Highways In Alaska

  • AK-1
  • AK-2
  • AK-3
  • AK-4
  • AK-5
  • AK-6
  • AK-7
  • AK-8
  • AK-9
  • AK-10
  • AK-11
  • AK-98

List of Toll Roads In Alaska

  • Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel (Whittier Tunnel)

Did you known Route 1 is the longest road in Alaska at 545.92 mi (878.57 km).

Alaska County Map

Alaska County Map

Alaska County Map With Important Cities & Towns

Alaska County Map With Important Cities and Towns
You can see more Alaska county maps here.

Alaska Population Density Map

Alaska Population Density Map

Alaska Population Facts

State Population: 733,406
State Population Rank (out of 50): 48th
Population Density: 1.10/sq mi (0.42/km2)
Population Density Rank (out of 50): 50th

Top 10 Cities In Alaska

  1. Anchorage: 286,075
  2. Fairbanks: 31,856
  3. Juneau: 31,555
  4. Wasilla: 9,945
  5. Sitka: 8,282
  6. Ketchikan: 8,079
  7. Kenai: 7,746
  8. Palmer: 6,378
  9. Bethel: 6,292
  10. Homer: 6,040

Alaska Income & Taxes

Median Household Income: $89,740
Household Income Rank (out of 50): 9th
Top Marginal State Income Tax Rate: none
Average Sales Tax Rate*: 1.82%
Average Property Tax Rate*: 1.04%
* Note theses vary from city to city within the state.

Map of Alaska Lakes & Rivers

Map of Alaska Lakes and Rivers
Largest Lake In Alaska: Iliamna Lake 1014 (sq mi)
Longest River In Alaska: Yukon River 1,980 miles (3,190 km)

Alaska Köppen Climate Map

Alaska Köppen Climate Map
Map created by Icy98
This climate map of Alaska shows the different Köppen climate types across the state, with each color representing a specific climate category.

Observations:

  • Subarctic (Dfc) climate, marked in teal, dominates large parts of Alaska, especially in the interior regions.
  • Tundra (ET) regions (gray) are prominent in the northern and high-altitude areas, which is typical for colder, more polar regions.
  • Dry-winter subarctic (Dwc) (dark blue) and dry-summer subarctic (Dsc) (dark gray) climates also cover significant parts of the central and western parts of Alaska.
  • Oceanic (Cfb) and Subpolar oceanic (Cfc) climates (green shades) are found along the southern coastal areas, particularly around the panhandle and the Aleutian Islands.
  • The Warm-summer Mediterranean continental (Dsb) and cold-summer Mediterranean (Csc) climates (light and dark yellow, respectively) occur in small patches throughout the state.

Alaska State Timeline

Here’s a historical timeline of Alaska, covering key events from early indigenous cultures to modern times:

Pre-European Contact and Indigenous Cultures (Before 18th Century)

  • Before 10,000 BCE: Alaska’s first inhabitants cross the Bering Land Bridge from Asia. Indigenous groups like the Iñupiat, Yupik, Aleuts, Tlingit, Haida, and Athabascans settle across the region.
  • 1000 CE: Thule people (ancestors of modern Iñupiat and Inuit) migrate into the northern and western parts of Alaska. They replace earlier Paleo-Eskimo cultures.
  • 16th–18th centuries: Indigenous peoples establish rich cultures with trade networks, advanced hunting techniques, and sophisticated art and storytelling traditions.

European Exploration and Russian Alaska (18th–19th Century)

  • 1728: Danish explorer Vitus Bering, commissioned by Russia, sails through the Bering Strait, discovering what would become the Russian-American frontier.
  • 1741: Bering’s second expedition leads to the official “discovery” of Alaska. His crew lands on the Aleutian Islands, marking the beginning of Russian fur trade with Alaska’s indigenous people.
  • 1784: The first permanent Russian settlement is established on Kodiak Island by fur trader Grigory Shelikhov.
  • 1799: The Russian-American Company is chartered by Tsar Paul I, giving it control over the fur trade and the administration of Alaska.
  • 1818: Russian Orthodox missionaries arrive and begin converting indigenous populations.
  • 1824: A treaty between the United States and Russia defines borders and commercial interests in the North Pacific.
  • 1848: The discovery of gold in California reduces Alaska’s significance to the Russian Empire, increasing interest in selling the territory.

U.S. Purchase and Early Development (19th Century)

  • 1867: The U.S. purchases Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million in a deal negotiated by Secretary of State William H. Seward. The purchase is initially mocked as “Seward’s Folly.”
  • 1867–1884: Alaska is administered as a military district with minimal U.S. government presence.
  • 1884: The U.S. Congress passes the First Organic Act, establishing Alaska as a civil and judicial district, with a governor and other appointed officials.
  • 1896–1899: The Klondike Gold Rush in nearby Yukon Territory leads to a rush of settlers through Alaska, particularly through towns like Skagway and Dyea.

Territorial Status and Economic Growth (Early 20th Century)

  • 1900: The gold rush spreads to Nome, Alaska, leading to another wave of settlers.
  • 1906: Alaska elects its first non-voting delegate to the U.S. Congress.
  • 1912: Alaska is granted territorial status through the Second Organic Act, and Juneau becomes the territorial capital.
  • 1915: Construction begins on the Alaska Railroad, which connects Seward to Fairbanks and encourages economic development.
  • 1920: Anchorage is founded as a key railroad construction hub.
  • 1935: The U.S. government encourages agricultural development by relocating 200 farming families from the Midwest to Alaska’s Matanuska Valley during the Great Depression.

World War II and Strategic Importance (Mid 20th Century)

  • 1942: Japan invades the Aleutian Islands (Attu and Kiska) during World War II, marking the only time since the War of 1812 that foreign troops occupied U.S. soil.
  • 1943: U.S. forces recapture the Aleutian Islands in a bloody campaign. Alaska’s strategic military importance grows as a staging area for air and land operations.
  • 1942–1945: The Alaska Highway (Alcan) is built, connecting Alaska to the contiguous U.S. through Canada, further increasing the territory’s accessibility.

Statehood and Post-War Development (Mid to Late 20th Century)

  • 1957: The discovery of the Swanson River Oil Field on the Kenai Peninsula increases momentum for Alaska’s statehood.
  • January 3, 1959: Alaska officially becomes the 49th state of the United States, with Juneau as the state capital.
  • 1964: The Great Alaska Earthquake strikes the Anchorage area with a magnitude of 9.2, the strongest recorded earthquake in North American history. It causes widespread destruction and a deadly tsunami.
  • 1968: The discovery of oil at Prudhoe Bay on Alaska’s North Slope leads to the development of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS), one of the world’s largest pipeline systems.
  • 1971: The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) is passed, granting Alaska Natives 44 million acres of land and nearly $1 billion in compensation for lands ceded to the U.S.
  • 1977: The Trans-Alaska Pipeline is completed, allowing oil to flow from Prudhoe Bay to the port of Valdez, dramatically increasing Alaska’s revenue and population growth.

Modern Alaska (Late 20th Century to Present)

  • 1980: The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) is passed, protecting more than 100 million acres of Alaska’s wilderness.
  • 1989: The Exxon Valdez oil spill releases millions of gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound, causing one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history.
  • 1994: Alaska’s Permanent Fund, created from oil revenue, begins paying annual dividends to Alaska residents, giving them a share of state oil income.
  • 2006: Sarah Palin is elected as the governor of Alaska, becoming a nationally prominent political figure.
  • 2000s-Present: Climate change significantly impacts Alaska, with warming temperatures, melting glaciers, and permafrost thaw reshaping the landscape and affecting communities.

10 Fun Facts About Alaska

Here are 10 fun and interesting facts about Alaska:

  1. Biggest State by Far: Alaska is the largest state in the U.S., more than twice the size of Texas. It covers about 663,300 square miles and makes up about 17% of the entire U.S. land area!
  2. Longest Coastline: Alaska has more coastline than all the other U.S. states combined. With over 6,640 miles of coastline, if you include all the islands, that number jumps to 33,000 miles.
  3. Two-Day Summers: In parts of Alaska, the summer solstice brings nearly 24 hours of daylight. Barrow (now known as Utqiaġvik) experiences continuous daylight for about 83 days, known as the “midnight sun.”
  4. Volcanic State: Alaska is home to over 130 volcanoes, and more than 50 of these have been active in the last 200 years. Some of the most famous ones are found in the Aleutian Islands.
  5. Home of the Northern Lights: Alaska is one of the best places in the world to witness the Aurora Borealis, especially during winter. Fairbanks is a popular spot for viewing this stunning natural light display.
  6. No State Sales Tax or Income Tax: Alaska doesn’t have a state sales tax or an income tax. Instead, residents receive an annual dividend from the state’s oil revenues through the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD).
  7. Famous for Sled Dog Racing: The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is a famous long-distance race that takes place annually in Alaska. Mushers and their dog teams race nearly 1,000 miles from Anchorage to Nome.
  8. Largest National Park: Alaska is home to the largest national park in the U.S., Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, which covers 13.2 million acres. It’s bigger than Switzerland and contains nine of the 16 highest peaks in the U.S.
  9. Denali – Tallest Mountain in North America: Alaska’s Denali (formerly known as Mount McKinley) is the tallest mountain in North America, standing at 20,310 feet. It’s taller than Mount Everest when measured from base to summit!
  10. Bald Eagle Paradise: Alaska has the largest population of bald eagles in the U.S. Thousands of them can be found in places like the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, especially during the fall salmon run.

For more on Alaska see: