ALASKA

    Some people may not realize just how big Alaska really is. Unlike many U.S. states and European countries, you couldn't just drive across this state in a few hours. In fact, Alaska is bigger than Sweden, Norway, Finland and Germany all put together! When it became the 49th state it increased the size of the U.S. by almost 20 per cent! People are surprised when they find out that Alaska is the northernmost, westernmost, and easternmost state. It crosses the international dateline (180. poledník), so it is easternmost.
    With such a large amount of land, there is bound to be a wide variety of landscapes. About one-third of Alaska is in the Arctic Circle and is basically frozen ground with no trees. The part of Alaska that joins with Canada has the world's largest expanse of glacial ice outside of Greenland and Antarctica. Little Diomede Island off the west coast is only four kilometers from Big Diomede Island, which is Russian.
     European exploration began in Alaska in the 1700s, and it was exploited for its plentiful supply of sea-otter (vydra mořská) furs. Russians were the first settlers in Alaska, and their first governor, Aleksander Baranov, was a cruel leader who severely mistreated the native Alaskans and Eskimos. This ended in a massacre at Sitka in 1802. The Russians, the British, and American fur traders all fought for their claims to the land, and finally this was resolved in 1824 when Russia gave equal trading rights to all. Finally the United States purchased Alaska in 1867.
     Alaska is a great place to visit if you love mountains, but don't expect to take a pleasant day hike to reach the top of one of Alaska's snowy peaks. The tallest mountain in North America, Mt. McKinley (Denali NP) is 6,194 meters high - higher than any mountain in Europe. One good way to explore this rugged and even dangerous frontier is to start with some of Alaska's national parks. Denali National Park features Mt. McKinley and interesting wildlife, including bears, caribou and moose (los americký). In Katmai National Park you can find active volcanoes, and Glacier Bay National Park boasts fjords and glaciers.
     Southeast Alaska is all islands and shorelines, so cruises that come up the coast from Seattle are popular. The Kenai Peninsula is nice because there are a lot of hiking trails and camping and all around natural stuff.
    On the down side, sometimes living so far north and away from the rest of civilization can be difficult. Not a lot of culture makes it up to Alaska. There aren't any especially large cities, so the market is just not big enough to attract musicians, art shows, that kind of things.
    Living in Alaska may not be what many people envision as typical American life. The winters up north are cold and dark, and it is far away from the rest of the United States and even the populated parts of Canada. But the people who live here love the remoteness (odlehlost), the dramatic coastlines, the stunning mountains, and the fascinating wildlife of Alaska.