Great Land of Alaska
Pictures and Information about The Great Land
Fact of the Week:The first television broadcast in Bethel took place in 1972. (More facts) |
Last update:September 3, 2011: New pictures added. See the new picture page for all the new pictures. |
Alaska - The Great Land.
Our word Alaska comes from the Aleut word Alyeska — “The Great Land.” As anyone who has lived in or visited Alaska knows, this is indeed The Great Land. Lush coastal rain forests, high mountain peaks, large crystal-clear lakes, and massive glaciers are just some of the breathtaking sights in this northern land.
Alaska can be just as dangerous as it is beautiful. A Grizzly surprised by a hiker, a rutting bull moose, hypothermia, earthquakes, volcanos, or avalanches are things that many Alaskans have had to face at one time or another. This tranquil, peaceful land can be a real challenge for those who try to take it on without the proper preparation and planning.
Still, many Alaskans say that despite the challenges and dangers, they'd rather not be anywhere else. They share the land with one of the world's longest rivers (The Yukon River), one of the world's highest tides (Cook Inlet), one of the world's largest mountains (Denali), and one of the world's deepest gorges (Great Gorge). Alaska also has the world's largest population of Grizzly Bears and one of the world's highest concentrations of Bald Eagles. Whether you're a Cheechako or a Sourdough, a visitor or a long-time resident, there's plenty to see and enjoy in the Great Land.
Come on in and see what we've got to offer:
Picture Galleries - Photographs of Alaskan scenery.
Reference - Definitions, maps, trivia, and other things about Alaska.
Humor - A few Alaskan-related jokes.
Links - Some links to other Alaskan or Alaskan-related sites.
VOLCANO UPDATE: (January 26 2012 9:00PM Alaska time)
Cleveland:
Concern Level: YELLOW Alert Level: ADVISORY
Previous Level: ORANGE
2012-01-20 10:04:43 AVO Report:
No new activity was detected at Cleveland volcano this week. Elevated surface temperatures at the volcano's summit were observed in a satellite image on January 17. The elevated temperatures likely result from active fumaroles (vents of hot steam and gas) as well as from recent, still-warm deposits of ash, blocks, and lava. No lightning, airwave (infrasound) signals, or volcanic ash in satellite images were detected during this interval, indicating that the elevated temperatures were not related to volcanic explosions. AVO has received no reports of activity at the volcano from pilots or other observers.
Satellite data indicate that the lava dome that formed throughout the fall-winter of 2011 was largely removed and covered by the explosive activity of late December. It is uncertain if eruptive activity at Cleveland has ended, paused, or is occurring at a level below our detection capabilities. It remains possible for intermittent, sudden explosions of blocks and ash to occur at any time, and ash clouds exceeding 20,000 feet above sea level may develop. Such explosions and their associated ash clouds may go undetected in satellite imagery for hours. If a large, explosive, ash-producing event occurs, seismic, infrasound, or volcanic lightning may be detected by local and regional monitoring networks. There is no real-time seismic monitoring network on Mount Cleveland.
(Alaska & Kamchatka Peninsula volcano status / recent Alaskan earthquakes)
Copyright © Douglas Gates
