30 facts you never knew about Alaska

Celebrate Alaska Day on October 18 and learn more fun facts about Alaska - the largest US state!

Alaska Day is officially celebrated on October 18 and commemorates the date when the state was formally transferred from Russia to the USA. There are many things we know about Alaska but there are even more that we've never heard of. It's time to unravel the mystery and expand your knowledge of the northernmost state in the United States!

1. At their closest points, Russia and Alaska are just two miles away from each other.
2. It cost the USA about $7,200,000 to buy Alaska from Russia.
3. On average, you can see Aurora borealis 243 days a year in Fairbanks Alaska.
4. The highest temperature was recorded in Alaska in 1915 - about 100 °F.
5. The lowest temperature was recorded in Alaska in 1971 - about -80 °F.
6. Alaska gives about 1/4 of oil produced in the USA.
7. You can type the name of Alaska on one row of a keyboard.
8. The highest peak in North America is located in Alaska: Denali is 20,320 ft. above sea level. Moreover of the 20 highest peaks of the USA, 17 are found in Alaska.
9. The largest salmon was caught in Alaska and weighed 97.5 pounds!
10. Iliamna Lake located in Australia is about the size of Connecticut.
11. More than half of all glaciers in the world are found in Alaska.
12. Alaska has the lowest population density in the USA - only one person per square mile. If New York City had the same population density 16 people only would inhabit Manhattan.
13. When Bennie Benson designed the flag of Alaska in 1926, he was only 13 years old.
14. Barrow, Alaska, is located only 800 miles south of the North Pole. This town is notable for both its longest and shortest days: in spring the sun rises on May 10 and doesn't set for almost three months. In the fall, the sun sets on November 18 leaving the Barrow residents without the daylight for almost two months.
15. There are about 5, 000 earthquakes in Alaska annually. Of the ten strongest earthquakes recorded in the world, three have taken place in Alaska.
16. About 52% of all Alaska residents are men - it's the highest percentage among all US states.
17. In Alaska, you won't find any plants poisonous to the touch.
18. Although Alaska was bought from Russia in 1867, it only became the 49th state in 1959.
19. The territory of about 425 Rhode Islands could fit into the territory of Alaska.
20. The official state motto is North to the Future.
21. Almost 1/3 of Alaska is located within the Arctic Circle.
22. Alaska is the largest state of the United States and is twice as big as Texas.
23. The name "Alaska" is derived from the Eskimo word Alakshak that means "great lands."
24. Alaska is the most popular state for ... flying in the US! One of every 59 Alaska residents has an airplane.
25. Vitus Bering, the first European to discover Alaska died from scurvy and was buried on the Aleutian Islands.
26. Alaska is the only US state where platinum is produced.
27. The largest earthquake on the North American continent was recorded in 1964 and measured 9.2 on the Richter Scale.
28. More American died defending Alaska during WWII than at Pearl Harbor.
29. In 1958, a mega-tsunami larger than the Empire State Building hit Alaska.
30. Until 1986 people didn't have to buy property in Alaska. They only needed to build a house there and get the piece of land for free. Lucky guys!

What strange and curious facts about the state do you know? It's time for our quiz