Tourism is a crucial aspect of the Alaskan economy, with 2.25 million visitors visiting in a normal year and spending $2.2 billion during their stay. This generates 10 jobs and contributes to $126 million in state revenue and $88 million in municipal revenue, totaling an economic impact of $4.5 billion. The state’s stunning scenery, wildlife, and the opportunity to see the Northern Lights are some of the top reasons to visit Alaska.
In 2022-23, tourism generated over $157 million in revenue for the State of Alaska through permits, fees, tickets, and taxes. It also supported 48,000 jobs in Anchorage and generated $297 million in annual direct spending. In 2019, more than 52,000 Alaskans depended on tourism for their income. Every dollar spent on tourism brings returns to the state and communities.
The 2022 season had an economic impact of $5.6 billion, according to a recent report from the Alaska Travel. Alaska’s tourism economy accounted for one in 10 jobs in the state and more than $4 billion in total spending in 2017. In 2018, Alaska experienced a record year for tourism.
Cultural tourism in Alaska creates a space for the Alaska Native community to learn about their own cultures by sharing traditions, stories, and values. Tourism is now one of the largest income generators for Alaska and an excellent alternative to non-traditional employment. As it continues to become one of the world’s largest industries, so will the need for it.
In conclusion, tourism is a vital part of the Alaskan economy, attracting over 1.1 million visitors annually and contributing significantly to the state’s economy.
📹 Why Anchorage is America’s Most OP City
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How much does Alaska rely on tourism?
In summer 2018, Alaska’s visitor volume increased by 5% to 100, 000 visitors, primarily due to the cruise market, which saw a 7% growth. The air market also saw a 1% increase, while the highway/ferry market saw a 13% increase. Cruise passengers accounted for 57% of all visitors. Alaska’s visitor industry generated over $126 million in state revenues and $88 million in municipal revenues, contributing to services benefiting residents and communities.
The tourism industry created over $1. 4 billion in payroll, with an economic impact of $4. 5 billion in 2018. Approximately $2. 2 billion of visitor spending supports tourism businesses and local restaurants. One in three Alaska visitors are repeat travelers, with many returning as independent travelers who first came to Alaska on a cruise ship. The industry invests heavily in the state, spending hundreds of millions on capital expenditures, construction, operating equipment, marketing, and contributions to non-profit organizations.
Why was Alaska so important?
The purchase of Alaska in 1867 marked the end of Russian efforts to expand trade and settlements along the Pacific coast of North America, marking a significant step in the United States’ rise as a great power in the Asia-Pacific region. Russia had a keen interest in the region since 1725, but St. Petersburg lacked the financial resources to support major settlements or a military presence along the Pacific coast of North America. The Crimean War further reduced Russian interest in the region.
Russia offered to sell Alaska to the United States in 1859, believing it would off-set Great Britain’s designs in the Pacific. The looming U. S. Civil War delayed the sale, but after the war, Secretary of State William Seward agreed to a proposal from Russian Minister Edouard de Stoeckl to purchase Alaska for $7. 2 million. The Senate approved the treaty, President Andrew Johnson signed the treaty, and Alaska was formally transferred to the United States on October 18, 1867.
For three decades after its purchase, the United States paid little attention to Alaska, which was governed under military, naval, or Treasury rule or, at times, no visible rule at all. In 1884, the United States constituted a civil government to impose U. S. mining laws. Alaska became the gateway to the Klondike gold fields, and its strategic importance was finally recognized in World War II.
What does Alaska’s economy rely on?
Alaska’s economy is heavily influenced by its status as a frontier, with high labor and transportation costs and environmental constraints preventing outside investment. However, infrastructure improvements have significantly reduced the costs of economic transformation. The discovery of North Slope oil fields in 1968 led to the creation of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, creating jobs and increasing revenue. Alaska’s present-day economy is based on oil production, fishing, federal and state expenditures, research and development, and tourism.
Although Alaska has over 3 million acres of potentially tillable land, only a small portion of the economy is agricultural, with most foods requiring imports. The state government promoted agricultural expansion in the 1970s, but no major expansions have occurred since then. Commercial farming is concentrated in the Matanuska-Susitna valley, while small-scale farming is prevalent in the Fairbanks area. Livestock raising is also prevalent, with sheep and caribou raised for local consumption.
Alaska also produces feed for horses for recreational use and hunting. Hunting, particularly of moose and caribou, and fishing and whaling in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas play a significant role in the subsistence economy of Indigenous peoples.
Why is tourism important in Alaska?
In the 2022-23 fiscal year, the tourism industry in Alaska had an estimated economic impact of $5. 6 billion, supporting 48, 000 jobs and generating over $157 million in revenue through various sources, including permits, fees, tickets, and taxes.
Why is Alaska a popular destination?
Alaska, America’s “Last Frontier”, is a land of untouched nature, diverse wildlife, rich culture, and thrilling adventure. It is known for its wide-open spaces, abundant outdoor experiences, and Alaskan Native culture. Alaska is also a top destination for viewing the Northern Lights. The 49th state offers diverse experiences, including Denali National Park, glacier walks, historic Gold Rush towns, kayaking, hiking, and scenic flights. Visitors can capture scenes from Denali National Park, explore historic Gold Rush towns, and enjoy unique experiences.
Why is Alaska the best state to visit?
Alaska, the largest state in the U. S., offers a vast array of unspoiled and unexplored areas. It is one of the last and greatest unspoiled places on Earth, offering adventure and exploration. Alaska boasts the highest mountains, most glaciers, the largest moose, and the longest days. With over 3, 000 rivers and 3 million lakes, over 6, 600 miles of coastline, and rich cultures, Alaska is a destination for many.
Planning a trip to Alaska can be overwhelming, but the Pursuit team of local experts has been providing expert advice and assistance for over 20 years. Alaska vacations are considered the trip of a lifetime for many people.
Why do people tour Alaska?
Alaska is a state known for its rich cultural heritage, with many small towns offering unique experiences. Visitors can explore the state’s history, visit museums, and enjoy its vibrant culture. The Alaska Native Heritage Center and Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center at the Anchorage Museum provide opportunities to learn about the state’s traditions. Local cuisine, including fresh seafood and vegetables, is a must-try. In 2024, Alaska is expected to continue its business as usual, but there are some specific aspects to be aware of.
What is the most important industry in Alaska?
Alaska’s economy heavily relies on oil and gas revenues, accounting for 85% of the state budget. The oil industry’s success is heavily influenced by world oil prices. The oil was discovered in Prudhoe Bay in 1968 and the 800-mile pipeline was completed in 1977. The pipeline, 48 inches in diameter, moves at 5. 5 miles per hour, taking just under six days to travel. Tourism, attracting over 1. 1 million visitors annually, is Alaska’s second largest primary employer.
What attracts people to Alaska?
Alaska is a popular destination for tourists seeking fishing and hunting opportunities. Family-owned tourist services offer boats, hunting gear, and exotic lodging facilities. These vessels are clean, safe, fast, and comfortable, equipped with modern safety gadgets and ultra-low emissions. They can seat up to six people and have licensed captains and trained medicos. Local processors also assist with packaging, freezing, and shipping catch.
How many tourists visit Alaska each year?
From May 2022 to April 2023, 2. 7 million individuals visited Alaska, representing a 40% increase in visitor spending from 2016 to 2022. The average length of stay in the state was 8. 5 nights.
Why is Alaska so valuable?
Alaska, a US state rich in natural resources like petroleum, gold, and fish, is a strategic location for Russia and a gateway to the Arctic. The author, a descendant of Inupiaq Eskimos, has studied the history of Alaska’s Americanization and its history. There are two perspectives on the cession: one from the perspective of the Russians who took possession of Alaska and ceded it to the US, and the other from the perspective of the people who have lived in Alaska for thousands of years. The anniversary of the cession brings mixed emotions, including immense loss and optimism.
📹 Why Life Is Different In Alaska
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I am surprised you didn’t talk about the fact that Alaska provides 60% of the domestically produced seafood for the US. All of that goes through Anchorage. Or the fact that Alaska has more freshwater than the rest of the USA combined. Edit: 1.) So it has been pointed out that a significant amount of seafood is shipped directly from the ports where it is caught without going through Anchorage. So it was incorrect to say “All”. 2.) I was just wrong on the freshwater numbers. The total freshwater area of 49 states (excluding AK) is around 170 million square miles. The total freshwater area of Alaska is 94 million square miles, so just over half the rest of the USA combined (this includes the areas of the great lakes that the USA claims). The next state with the highest total surface area is Michigan with around 40 million square miles and it falls off pretty hard from there with Florida with around 12 million square miles.
I have live here in Anchorage since 07 and work in the air cargo industry for 10 years from loadmaster to load control. We are getting tons of demands and had increase 3x the traffic since I left In the industry couple years ago. Amazon is now also opening a key point sorting hub here as they are opening their doors to asia international market. I wish I have listened to this pilot that I always fly with back in the day. He told me that Pilots will be shortage and on demand in the next 10 years and he encourage me to get my license and earn my hours. He told me this 4 years ago and now it’s happening!!!
It’s quite interesting how cities such as Anchorage that we generally don’t discuss in real life are so important to governments around the world. Kind of makes you feel better if you got transferred to some of these places for work because you know that you are a part of something much bigger than yourself.
One thing you didn’t mention for Alaska downsides (and Anchorage in particular) is their supply chain, they produce only a small portion of their food locally and are completely dependent on supplies being brought up by the ship load. Anchorage’s port kind of sucks because Cook Inlet is a shallow silt bed, which requires constant dredging to maintain functional operations. This means they are extremely vulnerable in the case of a disaster (think another mega earthquake, a war or any other large supply chain interrupting event), in the case of their supply chain being cut, the non-subsistence lifestyle people (or at any rate, non-preppers with no wilderness skills) would be facing starvation in a matter of a couple months, possibly weeks.
As someone who grew up in Anchorage, I can definitely attest that while it sucks to live in, its strategic importance has always been a huge point of emphasis. The military actually makes up a big part of its economy as the Army and Air Force have a huge joint base just north of downtown. And the fact it’s still such an important cargo hub is cool. My wife and I actually lived in a house that was just east of one of the runways and I would see 747s all the time. I even caught a picture of the Antonov An-225 (the largest airplane in the world) right above our house. I don’t miss much about Anchorage (moved out of Alaska in 2019) but I always tell people that it’s such an important place even today.
It’s not just that planes can refuel in Anchorage as they go by, it’s that you can fill a plane full with goods going to multiple destinations, send it and others to Alaska, and then fill up planes with goods from many sources to get to their final destinations. So the same flight into, say, Mexico City could have goods shipped in from both Tokyo and London.
As an Alaskan, I always thought that Alaska, while fascinating, was never going to be a big place for the USA. It was always that state that got brought up when talking about the American purchase of the land, and then never again. It was always this quaint piece of land that I lived in. Now that I hear this, I think that it could be in my lifetime when Alaska becomes one of the biggest places in the world, and I could be there to say what it was like before, so that’s really nice to hear.
A sign I commonly saw while I lived in Alaska was “Alaska- The last foreign nation still friendly to Americans”. Living in Alaska really is like living in a different country. So often we felt disconnected from the larger issues affecting the lower 48. It certainly is remote, but that comes with its benefits.
As someone who’s an aviation nut that lives in Anchorage, this article makes me extremely proud of my home town. That said, international travel ending after the fall of the USSR deeply saddens me, considering how much of a nuisance it is now to try and fly internationally, having to fly down to the lower 48s and then go back the way I came.
Thank you for this article. So many people have no clue that FedEx, UPS, USPS and DHL all have huge hubs here. It boggles me when people tell me they can’t ship something from the East Coast of the US to Alaska. The “reasons” vary from company to company for not being able to ship to Alaska. Funny part is that Amazon is an Alaskan’s best friend because Amazon will gladly ship almost anything we need.
One interesting thing about Anchorage is the weather. You might think that a city so far north would have horrific winters. But because it is coastal, Anchorage is actually more temperate than you might think. Of course, winters are cold, with snow, but the temperatures do not drop to terribly low levels like they do in the interior. Likewise, summers are pretty moderate.
I want to add to this. Throughout the interior of the state there is a river system that rivals that of the Mississippi with gold, copper, fertile land, and rare earth all along its banks. Its the Yukon. My hometown of Fairbanks used to export lumber by way of this river and honestly we have the fastest growing farmer population in this country. We have abundance in resources, arable land, and easy transport. I honestly believe Alaska may become one of America’s Top 3 power centers by the end of the century.
I was stationed in Anchorage from 2016-2020 and the city is quite small for how many people and cargo comes through there. It also has a lot of problems with drugs and homelessness. Anchorage is close to a lot of major shipping hubs but actually living there is still very isolating. It takes a toll on your mental state especially during the winter
14:54 Greenland is actually not part of the European Union. It is a highly autonomous territory of Denmark, and although Denmark is part of the EU, Greenland isn’t. In fact, Greenland voted to leave what was then the European Community back in 1985, largely due to their desire to keep their fishing waters and other natural resources away from the EC/EU.
Anchorage is hands down the best city in the world. Best restaurants, endless parks, trails & creeks, fantastic night life, great arts/theatre, etc. The cost of living is high but not as high as CA. It’s so beautiful! I’m a commercial pilot, & the airport is a dream come true: paved runways >13,500 feet long, + gravel the world’s largest seaplane base. I’m blessed to use PANC more than any other airport in my career. Plus I had a great little house in a good neighborhood 4 minutes from work, & now I live on a grass strip out of town. Winter is winter, but there’s so much to do: skating at Westchester lagoon, >1000 miles of groomed trails for skiing & ski-joring, easy day trips for snowmachining at Turnagain Pass, Petersville & everywhere in between. Fur Rondy & the Iditarod in Feb & March. Anchorage is not perfect, but it’s just fantastic! We have the best of everything, AND only small crowds, no lines, traffic is easy to avoid, hardly any people! It’s just the best! And summertime, … omg! It makes you know Heaven is real!
Anchorage fun fact: Anchorage came from the name of a hardwood store operated from a boat and refers to a place where a ship can lay anchor. Let’s be honest, our missile reaching Alaska would be the best thing to happen to Alaska. Because at long last, they’ll never have to worry about the Alaskan Bullworm ever again. And if it hits Sarah Palin…even better Also, Greenland isn’t part of the EU. It used to be in the then European Community between 1973 and 1985 but withdrew and is only associated with it under an overseas association decision. They chose to leave because they wanted to regain control of their fishing
I lived in Alaska 17 years. Anchorage was basically like a larger, more boring version of Fairbanks with a bunch of strip clubs and higher crime rate. Usually the winters were a little more mild in Anchorage but that wasn’t always the case. Living there sounded terrible to me because houses in Anchorage were ridiculously expensive, so people would save money by living out in Palmer or Wasilla and commuting in on that single highway (which gets choked with traffic every day at rush hour). The solution one politician tried to fund was a bridge over the Knik Arm (labeled by the media a “bridge to nowhere”) which certainly would have helped commuter time but been ridiculously expensive. Alaska doesn’t have much in the way of mass transit at all, but building a light rail between Anchorage and the Matanuska Valley would help things immeasurably for people. The issue is Alaska doesn’t have much money, being overly reliant on the unstable oil market, tourism revenue (which has been really hurt in recent years), and federal money to pay for things, so infrastructure improvements up there (outside of paving roads) rarely get priority.
In addition to that, Alaska has more fresh water resources than any other US state & one of the lowest utilization rates, too. And as the world gets warmer, Alaska’s growing season also expands. Add onto that the fact that Alaska’s fisheries are some of the most sustainably managed on Earth & you’ve got a pretty good location going forward into an uncertain world. Their only serious drawback is just how much they rely on imports right now. 50 years ago, Alaska grew almost half of its own food. Right now, it only grows 5% of its own food. Imho this is a dangerous over-reliance on trade & should be fixed as soon as possible.
When I think of Anchorage, Alaska I think of the Battle of Anchorage in the Fallout lore. It was a fierce battle between the Chinese and United States that lasted from late 2066 to early 2077. I think the war as a whole was called the Resource War and was fought by the global superpowers at the time. It was World War 3 essentially over the dwindling supply of fossil fuels. This was quickly followed by the Great War in October 2077 and lasted a whopping 2 hours. There was an exchange of possibly thousands of nuclear warheads all over the globe and then it was over. Everyone was a loser.
I live in Anchorage. Let me tell you, the Summer’s are so freaking beautiful here in Alaska. You must remember though, the winter’s are cold and dark. Many cannot hang with the darkness. Although, the Summer’s are definitely worth it. Stop giving our secrets away. Part of the beauty of Alaska is having less people here.
It would also be interesting if you would cover anchorages problems. For example, anchorage is hemmed in by the inlet to the west/south, the chugach mountain range to the east, and a military airforce base to the north. So it doesn’t have an option to grow much larger. There’s also our port which requires a significant amount of dredging, despite there being an option for a deep water port on fire island. We have the second highest tides in the entire world. The ’64 earthquake was a 9.4, and is almost guaranteed to happen again due to our position directly on top of a fault line. And our absolutely insane rape and crime statistics. There’s also the problem that our capitol is I accessible to the majority of our states population, and whenever there’s a vote to move it to Anchorage suspicious happenings occur and power outages that limit voting. And as a fun side note, you should check out recent news about our mayor.
At 6:31, every “less than _ hours” label uses the “GREATER THAN” symbol. When you say “X is less than 6” and display it as an equation, the thin end of the symbol should be pointing to the smaller value (in this case, the invisible X) and the wide open end should be pointing to the larger value (in this case, the 6 hour upper limit).
Costs to ship on the water would be significantly lower from bypassing the Panama Canal and sailing north around Alaska not only because of less fuel costs but if I remember correctly each cargo ship traveling through the Panama Canal pays at least a $100,000 fee for using the canal. That’s a lot of savings when added to the fuel and time being saved.
10:11 Correct me if i’m wrong, but surely Honolulu, Hawaii would be a better layover between India and the US West Coast? Edit: I looked it up, turns out it’s not even close! New Dehli-Anchorage-Los Angeles is ~7,700 miles New Dehli-Honolulu-Los Angeles is around ~9,800 miles! Map distortion is wild.
Oh god, when you said the northwest passage would save tens if not thousands… It will save MILLIONS per vessel. It is a profound change and will introduce a similar conflict as we see in the south china sea. I have worked on ships whose full cargo capacity is valued at 2.8 billion dollars. It is easy to underestimate the shipping industry.
Very depressing to think that there are people out there wanting the Earth to heat up, to capitalize on the untapped resources of the Arctic. The health of all living creatures and the Earth itself comes second when it comes to gaining money (which theoretically isn’t even real). Extremely depressing and I hope for a much more brighter future rather than a dystopian one.
Born and raised Alaskan, including having lived in Anchorage for a couple of years and though it has its positives it has a lot of negatives as well. The homeless issue there is huge. The crime rate is huge. It’s a dirty city. It’s also very expensive to live in Alaska, period, because of how expensive it is to ship goods. I lived on the Kenai peninsula for most of my life and honestly treasure a lot of memories and a simple childhood.
I became an Alaska-phile last year with my first trip, to Fairbanks (from NC). I was in love – so beautiful, people were awesome, just the sense that I was one step closer to nature (we ate tundra blueberries on the trail). But it was also easy to lose certain amenities – I had to go into Fairbanks proper to make a cellular call (you can rent satellite phones). I was in Anchorage in January and was blown away. The Cook Inlet is stunning. Sure, the high was -2F, but it didn’t feel like it – and I have lived in the Upper Plains (much worse). So much to see in our 49th state (not even touching on Denali). I will be going back at least annually to try to learn more. The US is fortunate to have this amazing state.
Living in Anchorage most of my life – to include today, I love seeing such great information on our city. I’m certain 80% of people in Anchorage do not know half of this information or at least understand it in this context – the importance of Anchorage in air freight and future potential for Anchorage as maritime transportation hub. Great article!
I’m born and raised in LA County. I’ve always been very fascinated with Alaska, especially Anchorage. Partly because it is so different from where I currently live, but also because of stuff like this. It is a decently sized city in the middle of absolute nowhere. The only reason it really exists is because of the trade routes. I also find it to be beautiful, due to its location. I found this to be a very interesting article about the city, and it’s interesting to see that it could end up being one of the most important cities in the world pretty soon. Great article as always RLL.
Lived in Anchorage my whole life, posting from there now (nice, warm 19 degrees outside.) It’s true that there’s a massive amount of potential in Anchorage and Alaska in general. We’re sitting on huge natural resources and shipping potential. However, most of it is untapped. Shipping and air cargo are really a pretty small piece of our economy. Especially next to the oil companies, which also aren’t what they used to be. It would be awesome to see things rebound someday, but there’s a lot of ‘ifs’ involved.
Wow, this was a great article. I was born and raised in Alaska and currently live in Valdez, which is about an hour away by air, and have been to Anchorage a million times. I learned a ton about my home state. I didn’t realize just how important Anchorage was to the world. I knew Alaska was important from a military standpoint but I never even thought it was from a economic standpoint. It will be interesting to see how Alaska grows and develops in the future. There are a lot of important resources here and I’m sure towns like Barrow, Kotzebue, Nome, Unalaska, etc., would grow tremendously from this development.
I live in Anchorage currently, and even worked at the Anchorage International Airport for awhile. We don’t have a large population compared to other “large” cities, but the scenery here is amazing. You can drive 10 minutes south and see pods of whales, or drive an hour and a half north to see and touch glaciers. We have sandy beaches, the Sealife Center, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation center, mountains to hike, trails to bike, and more all within just a few minutes to a few hours. Highly recommend people add it to their list of destinations, regardless of time of year. It’s simply beautiful.
This article has aged even better than expected, as Anchorage is now an even more popular layover location for cargo flights, due to many flight paths from Europe to Asia being rerouted close to the North Pole with the closure of Russian airspace. It’s a shame that Anchorage only has one direct transatlantic passenger destination (Frankfurt) – there may be even more untapped potential for passenger service not just for tourism to Alaska, but also to shave time off itineraries connecting Europe and the Pacific islands/Oceania.
Alaskan here: Anchorage was founded in 1914 as a head quarters for the railway that was leading north to Fairbanks. In the !930 During the Dust Bowl Farmers in the midwest that were effected by the drought given a chance to help settle Anchorage and received land hence where Palmer ended up being settled for. Finally During World War 2 it was used as a key defense point and aviation stop for the war effort, the Alaska Highway was completed at this time turning Anchorage into a regular air stop for air traffic to Asia and Europe.
Fun Fact: 1 of the reasons Alaska was sold so cheap was because Russia use to be one of our best Allies especially when Russia who saved The Union during the American Civil War as they sent their Navy to San Francisco and New York when England and France were just about to enter the war on the side of the Confederates since London created the Confederates. France was already in Mexico making a spear head movement to resupply the Confederates and to open up a Pacific Theatre and to create a port in California. England already amassed 11,000 troops and growing stationed at their Northern Confederacies border now called Canada ready to open a Northern Theatre to divert Union troops away from their Southern Confederacy then to attack The Unions naval blockade. The Union would have been completely destroyed and annexed by those two great powers leaving the Confederates to exist as either a puppet state of London or to be fully brought back into the fold of the British Empire. London was already courting (threatening/bribing) other countries to get involved like Spain while Russia was in talks with Prussia to ally with incase London was to intervene. Seeing all of this Tsar Alexander II wrote a letter to Queen Victoria saying “If you enter in this war it will be a casus belli for all out war with the Russian Empire”. The stage was set for the 1st World War and Russia stopped it. There is also a memorial in San Francisco for the hundreds of Russian sailors who came off their Asiatic fleet ships that died while helping the city put out a fire that threatened to lay waste to it during the War.
I was born in Anchorage, and have been here for most of my life. I’m happy anytime Anchorage comes up in these contexts because I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve told people from Outside these kinds of things only to have them tell me I don’t know what I’m talking about. As a side note, Anchorage is my heaven on Earth, and I absolutely love living here. Don’t let nay-sayers convince you otherwise.
Driving down the Richardson Highway from Fairbanks down south, you drive through Ft Greely. Knowing the military history of Alaska and learning about the silos out at greely as a kid, I could never help but feel a sense of vague dread when driving by them. Kind of like driving past an active volcano that is currently dormant.
Why does RealLifeLore expect everyone to know what OP stands for? Do they really think we’re going to just guess that acronym that no one ever uses? Best I can tell, it stands for optimally positioned. Still, kinda ridiculously presumptuous of whoever wrote that title. I mean, really, how hard would it have been to just type out the words?
Only issue here is the Port of Anchorage. Trying to update and modernize it has only led to ten years or more of throwing lots and lots of money at it, without much to show for it all. The tidal waters here move over 30 feet of water, which combined with the “mud flats”, can be a giant nightmare when it comes to installing any kind of infrastructure. I can’t remember the exact geological makeup of the “mud flats”, but I am pretty sure what makes them such a problem is all the glacial silt that ends up flowing out into the ocean. People have been known to walk out on these when the tide is low and get stuck because it’s like quicksand in a way. Then once someone gets stuck, it can be impossible for them to get themselves unstuck without outside help, which can be hard to get in time before the tide comes back in. I’m pretty sure at least one woman has died in this manner just outside of Anchorage.
I have lived in Alaska for 15 years, met my wife the night I landed (she is a born-raised Alaskan) and we are raising the kiddos here. Anchorage is a poop hole of the highest order. I live a few hours away and visiting, whether flying or driving, it’s always treated as in-and-out quickly as possible.
Yeah Anchorage is surrounded by snow capped mountains in the winter and extremely beautiful and breathtaking landscapes yet the crime and homeless rates are some of if not the highest in the nation per-capita and it’s only been getting worse with each passing year.. I was robbed at gunpoint in a home invasion off Muldoon Rd. and so I decided to move away a month later!
Enjoyed this article! Shouldn’t the graphic be “< 6 Hours", not "> 6 Hours” if you’re trying to say “less than”? At about 6:34. Also, regarding seaborne shipping from Rotterdam to LA, I would think that another benefit would be the use of larger than panamax ships in the northwest passage. At about 12:24. Plus passage fees may be significant.
Understandably, it’s location is great strategically, but as someone who lives in Alaskaā¦.Avoiding Anchorage is what a lot of us try to do. We call it either Los Anchorage or Cankorage. It is filled with crime, drunk homeless people and has a huge population of people cramped into a small spot. There’s a saying many Alaskans say and it goes “The only good thing about Anchorage is that’s it’s only a short drive to Alaska”. Living in Anchorage doesn’t actually feel like your in Alaska. You have to leave town in order to do anything “Alaskan”. Loved there for a couple years and literally heard sirens all night long and one time even watched teens wrestle a bottle of vodka from a homeless dude next to city haul. That place sucks.
Surprised you wouldn’t bring up A2A railway which would eliminate the need to transport via ship through the northern passage. It would theoretically cut 5 days off shipments just by landing in Anchorage and putting everything on train. We really don’t need the ice to melt to make shipping a reality. The railway will be one of Alaska and Canada’s best long term investment decisions. Far less environmental impact as well.
That red circle at the 19 minute mark showing the big cities near the arctic cover Oslo, Bergen and Stavanger. The three biggest cities in Norway. Don’t know why they are not on the map. Oslo and Bergen are further south than Anchorage, but Trondheim is further north at 63 degrees north and a population just a bit below Anchorage.
Nice article, although I must say the graphic comparing state sizes at 1:46 is quite misleading. According to wikipedia (should be close enough) Alaska is slightly larger than those three states by land area. Using the Mercator projection to compare area sizes at different latitudes is a terrible idea.
Amused. It’s weird seeing pictures of places I take for granted as fairly daily in Anchorage. I typically live outside of Anchorage whenever I can afford to, but I work in Anchorage. Edit: Fair. As much as I dislike Anchorage, it is one of the few cities where in some places you can walk 50 yards from a busy road, and feel like you’re in the middle of the woods minus the traffic noise. That, I do appreciate.
Alaskan here. 18:18 Actually, considering the ground, you really need the ice to move big equipment. My arborist buddies have jobs they have to wait for winter to do, for instance, to get their stuff some places. In other words, a) the ice is helpful and no impediment, b) when it melts it’ll be harder to do work out there.
@19:00 >draws a 644km zone around arctic circle’s outer edge >visibly encompasses the entirety of Finland >Helsinki is apparently not a city of “any reasonable size” >literally has more people than Anchorage and Yakutsk combined Simo HƤyhƤ would not be pleased. EDIT: Oslo in Norway would also just barely be within that zone as well, and has about as many people as Helsinki to boot.
As a Alaskan Native (or Eskimo, I don’t mind,) it nice to see we get a spot in the light for a while, but it’s Anchorage though. Not dissing Anchorage I know how important it is, but it somewhat generally suck living there. It not as expensive as other big towns in North-Western-Northwest Alaska but the rural areas have a different life style. As long those crazy people from the lower-48 don’t try to live here. (Edit: Eskimo for the Northern, Northwest, Western, and Aleutian Islands. The Central/Interior Alaska are Alaskan Indian/ Alaskan Native American.)
Thule in Greenland is pronounced “too-lie”. I’ve been there. Here is the wikipedia info: “Thule” is named for Thule (Greek: ĪĪæĻĪ»Ī·), an ancient Greek place name dating to the third-century BC for a land believed to lie to the north of Britain, and the Latin phrase Ultima Thule (Latin, “farthest Thule”), the ancient Roman concept of a northernmost locale beyond the borders of the known world. However, unlike the Greek (and English) pronunciation of soft th (/ĖĪøuĖliĖ/), the name of the air base is pronounced using the Danish initial hard t (/ĖtuĖliĖ/).
This makes sense, as I’ve traveled through this airport twice, and even though it seemed really busy when looking at the sky, the terminals and shops were ghost towns. I walked into a closed shop and sat on the floor to charge my phone. Don’t go in the smoking room, even if you smoke, unless you want to completely reek of burnt tobacco and tar
Alaska also had a pretty significant role in WWII as huge amounts of resources and war materials were sent from the US to the Soviet Union. The US sent 8000+ planes through Alaska to Siberia and then on to the Eastern Front where they were used to halt Wehrmacht and keep the Soviet Union in the fight while the allies built up their militaries to prepare for future offenses.
Did it bug anyone else to see Texas, Montana, and California overlaid on a Mercator projection of Alaska at 1:47? The projection stretches land nearer to the poles. Although the statement accompanying this is correct, the land area of Alaska is quite close to the sum of the three, but the image makes it look like Alaska is much bigger than the sum of the three.
I lived in Anchorage for 50 years before I got tired of fighting the long cold dark winters. It’s a beautiful place. I traveled to Mexico, Central and South America in the winter for a month or two to thaw out. When people there asked me what it was like living in Alaska I would tell them that “It’s a lot like having a beautiful girlfriend. Who is frigid”… : ) Good Luck Anchorage, you gave me great memories.
I really think you’re overstating the potential for conflict between America and Canada. The US and Canada have the longest existing peaceful border not just currently, but essentially in history. Almost 200 uninterrupted years of essentially absolute peace unheard of in any other part of the world. I really think there is a next to 0% chance of any kind of serious conflict between the two countries
The Bering Strait will become one of the most important waterways in the world in the next 50 years, as it’s part of the Northern Sea Route along the northern shore of Russia, by far the shortest ship route between China and Europe (other than going straight over the pole). And that route is getting more navigable every year. Due to general tensions between the US and Russia, it’s likely that it may become a bone of contention. The US also could benefit from the use of the Northwest Passage to get from the East Coast to Asia, which also requires passage through the Bering Strait.
The conversation about the arctic passages opening up after climate change melts the ice is forgetting one major issue. Places like Rotterdam and Vancouver will be underwater without massive dikes and locks to hold the sea back. Most of the world’s coastal settlements, where 90% of humans live, are in direct danger of rising sea levels. We won’t be able to utilize these passages nearly as much as this dude has stated because we’ll all be panic building new cities further inland and trying to save our farmlands from drying up. Continuing to rely on fossil fuels and going so.far as to allow the arctic to melt so we can get more will literally kill billions from starvation and war over land and resources.
Just tiny note…might be nit-picking (sorry 😅 )but there are many more and larger cities in the 400mile red belt from the artic circle… Like St.Petersburg, Stockholm, Oslo, Helsinki, Tallinn etc.. all larger than either Murmansk or Anchorage. But they’re not as close to the passages..so they might not be as relevant, but Yakutsk or Magadan… Soo, idk..
10:58 Is false – there were TWO warm periods in the past 2000 years alone, the Medieval and Roman warm periods, and in both cases it was so warm it became possible to readily and reliably grow crops in the far northern reaches of the world; ie: Finland, Norway; that otherwise would have never been able to grow there. The “global temperature” required was vastly higher than what it is today. The “4000 years” bit is probably a result of the ‘methods’ they use to determine temperature in a time where no thermometer of repute existed – tree rings and ice core samples, which by no means have ever historically shown a reliable relation to global temperature. That’s not all, not even the data collected from thermometers over the past 250 some odd years can be considered that reliable – it is not as if thermometers made in 1850, or even 1650, were made in a NIST or NSF approved lab against an internationally recognized, peer reviewed, and completely stable standard that we ‘have’ today. Different processes, materials, and workmanship could result in completely different recorded temperatures in two different thermometers, which is true even today, especially of lesser quality sensors or devices not made to comply with those standards, IE: the temperature sensors in your phone, if your phone actually has one. The evidence used for statements like that are based on models that manipulate what would otherwise appear to be completely random trends to magnify the effects that someone who, either out of ill will or confirmation bias, is attempting to prove something that they wholeheartedly believe in that has little merit (or, if the person holds ill will, is trying to manipulate people to better their own pocketbooks).
If OP means “overpowered”, I completely disagree. Alaska will still be sparsely populated and Anchorage will still serve a relatively small metropolitan population even with the effects of climate change. You need to look at the inland regions of the lower West Coast to see the benefits of American geography in the future. (Edit: grammar, clarification)
I have been to Alaska multiple times and lived in summer and also winter the days and nights are not as what you would imagine sometimes it’s dark (like night) for long periods. Anchorage has decent veggie burgers and other options for vegetarians also. While it’s great for fuel and all that economics and I have gotten some far out futuristic ideas roaming in the wilderness that will transform the future of mankind, it’s fair game to say that living in Alaska is probably depressing.
Russia really should build a refueling airport in siberia iMO, would help develop the region and add value – like a small town somewhere where oil is found in siberia, a small refinery and a big airport added – then it might also be possible to extract previously unused resources like rare earth ores and precious metalls that previously just were uneconomic to recover
18:25 it’s a bit of a mute point to call it a “dangerous dependency” on Russia’s natural gas. Eastern European countries like Ukraine are more reliant on natural gas to heat their homes but, more prosperous nations in the west heat 64% of homes through electric power, and with France’s continued investment in nuclear energy, I doubt natural gas dependency will grow.
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Texas size is incorrectly represented in your article @1:47 – Texas is 268,000 (roughly) mi^2 whilst Alaska is 665,000 mi^2. Texas could fit roughly 2.4 times inside of Alaska. You certainly can fit both Texas and California, but the image representation is incorrect in respect to size. Texas takes up nearly all of the main land mass in the center if placed in the center of Alaska. In the image it shows that you could fit Texas 3, maybe 4 times minimum. The corners and lower portions of the state is what make it the extra 400,000 mi^2. Thank you for the article!
I know this article just states the fact of the new maritime route that would be created when the ice retreats the north pole, is clear that the article is not supporting for the ice to melt… but what a stupid vision really… yeah, let’s warm the Earth to levels never seen before in order to save a couple thousand maritime miles and gas per year… more employment!🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄 It reminded me of the movie “Don’t Look Up” when BASH put at risk the whole Earth to try to exploit the minerals in the comet. HA, not funny at all.
…have you not heard of Fairbanks? Fairbanks itself is fairly low in population but the overall Fairbanks North Star Borough is right around 100,000. There are 4 military bases within about an hour of Fairbanks. Ft. Wainwright (which is right next to Fairbanks), which just became home to the 11th Arctic Airborne Division, as well as vast compliment of Rotary aircraft from Blackhawks to CH-47s to Apaches, Eielson Air Force Base home of ONLY Arctic Region Air Refueling Unit and a squadron of F-35s, F-15s, and the mighty A-10, Ft. Greely and Clear “Space Force Base” are vital installations as part of the missile defense network. Fairbanks is the last major hub in the state, and is the point of entry for the last ground accessibility to the North Slope Oil Fields. To say Anchorage is the only major population center in the state within 400 miles of the Geographic North Pole is soundly incorrect.
General Bill Mitchel was outspoke pioneer of his time. He was removed and demoted several times from command for his outspoken views. He was Court Marshaled and found innocent by a jury of his peers. Definitely, a black eye on the face of American military history. If memory serves me right, he died as a Col. not a general, and was later reinstated and given proper credit.
Alright. These comments are getting to me. I’m a fourth generation Anchorage native. My great grand father migrated up from the south in the 20’s. When Anchorage was only a tent city. I’ve live here over 25 years. I love the diversity. I actually graduated from the most diverse high school in the entire US. East Anchorage High School. I will admit, going back to when certain neighborhoods were outside of local Police. My grandfather was one of the few state troopers responsible for those areas. He has always insisted Anchorage was the biggest little city. Even today most locals refer to it as Los Anchorage. I agree. Homelessness has always been rampant. Drug and alcohol is a real problem as well. Along with gang violence. I’ve had guns pointed at my head, drug deals in front of my home when only 8-10 years old, and friends die due to OD or gun violence. However it’s pretty, and totally worth the longer winters. Imagine driving 30-45 minutes and ending up in a forest with no souls around….
one other thing I might add here, is that when the Arctic Ocean becomes ice -free, it will significantly warm the rest of the planet to the point where human life will no longer be able to withstand the oppressive heat and humidity climate change will bring to the entire world. We can adapt, of course, but the heat will simply become too much for human life to tolerate, even with our level of adaptation to extreme circumstances.
Anchorage is the Minnie Portland Alaskans are embarrassed to have have in the state. The best thing to do in that city is count the homeless camps, listen to the police sirens and count the property crime stats. If that isn’t fun then you can watch the local soap opera, thats the city council arguing with the mayor. But if you really want to experience Anchorage it is best to do it in the rear view mirror as you drive out of town.