Only in Alaska: Facts You Won't Forget
Think you really know Alaska? We boast icefields that could dwarf entire states, brown bears that are outnumbering the neighbors, and bloodthirsty bird sized mosquitoes. Let's run through the facts, stats, and moose mayhem that showcase what makes Alaska's frozen frontier so wild.
Mackenzie, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move
Mackenzie moved to Alaska a decade ago and has lived all over the state, from tiny towns to major hubs, picking up hard earned local knowledge along the way. She moves often and has lived in everything from dry cabins to yurts and everything in between. One particularly chaotic year included six moves, which taught her more about Alaska logistics than any handbook ever could. She dives for Dungeness crab, forages local mushrooms, and carves wooden spoons from wood she harvests herself. At Snappy Scout, Mackenzie turns deep statewide experience into advice shaped by weather, distance, and the kind of challenges that feel second nature once you've made Alaska home.
Read moreWritten with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts
What Makes Alaska Alaska?
The weird, useful, and surprisingly relevant facts that shape everyday life here.
Common nicknames for Alaska
The Last Frontier. Land of the Midnight Sun.
Local Reality Check
Parts of Southeast Alaska can average 200 rainy days a year.
You're most likely moving from
Washington, Michigan, New England, and military bases worldwide.
Strangely large concentration of
Bush pilots, dog mushers, seasonal workers, extreme sport athletes, salmon fishermen, and off-grid homesteaders.
Music scene
Folk festivals, local jam bands, bluegrass, and karaoke nights at the local dive bar.
You'll have to see it to believe it
Northern Lights dancing pink and green across winter skies. Midnight sun refusing to set all summer. Salmon runs so thick you could catch them by hand!
Unique Geography
Glaciers, fjords, muskeg, icebergs, ocean, tundra, temperate old growth rainforest, volcanic islands, Arctic coasts.
Alaska is home to
8 national parks, Denali (tallest peak in North America), 100,000 glaciers, highest density of brown bears and bald eagles.
Well known for its
Public lands, hunting opportunities, salmon, blueberries, gold, oil pipelines, snow covered mountains, dry cabins, cruises, Xtratuffs, heli skiing, grizzly bears.
Fun history fact
Purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million—about 2 cents per acre.
Celebrity sightings
Jewel from Homer; Sarah Palin from Wasilla. Portugal. the Man from Wasilla.
Noteworthy Census stat
Least densely populated state with 1.3 people per square mile and has fewer people than Wyoming.
Most interesting sub-culture within Alaska
Extreme sport athletes looking for either the perfect alpine camp spot, glacier crevasses to climb, or big spine lines to shred.
Population
48th by population, 1st by land size.
Alaska is roughly the same geographic size as
The 3 largest U.S. states combined (Texas, California, Montana.)
Locals Know Best
Summer and Winter Solstice- Our favorite holidays! The best time to get together with friends and loved ones for celebrating, adventuring, eating, and sharing what we are grateful for- as we welcome the longest and shortest days of the year.
— Mackenzie Schultz
Alaska Local Expert
Ready to See If Alaska Fits You?
Compare cities, check the routes, or head back to the full Alaska guide for the bigger picture.