Alaska
Alaska
The capital is Juneau; total area is 591,004 sq. miles. Most of the 550,000 inhabitants of Alaska are of Aleutian, Indian and Eskimom origin; settlers dating back almost 8,000 years. This northernmost US state is a major attraction for the cruise lines; oil and natural gas are the most abundant natural resources.
Alaska - Inside Passage
An extraordinary collection of misty fjords, glaciers, rainforests, countless islands and mountains, the Inside Passage stretches from the coast of Canada’s British Columbia to Alaska’s southeastern panhandle. The landscape of this region was shaped millions of years ago by massive glaciers, and the irregular and jagged nature of these coasts seems tailor-made for exploring aboard a cruise ship. Ports of call here include Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, and Petersburg, offering plenty of creature comforts for visitors. But the abundant wildlife is the true star of the Inside Passage and one of the primary reasons to visit this beautiful region.
Alaska - Northbound
The nickname for Alaska is the “Final Frontier,” but perhaps no other region embodies this concept as much as the state’s great north. Roughly one third of Alaska’s territory lies above the Arctic Circle, a land of extreme landscapes and untamed beauty. Steep mountain ranges, coastal plains, rugged tundra, and polar habitats thriving with wildlife are some of the natural attractions here, while the native Eskimo culture provides a fascinating element to a region that may otherwise seem unfit for human life.
Alaska - Southbound
Alaska’s rugged, vast natural habitat begs to be explored, a fact that’s perhaps most evident in the state’s southwestern region. Expanding from the Gulf Alaska westward toward Asia by way of the Aleutian Islands, this corner of the largest U.S. state features contrasting sceneries that range from snow-capped mountain ranges and quaint seaside villages to windswept tundra and barren volcanic landscapes. As one of the richest salmon areas in the world, southwest Alaska draws record numbers of wildlife species, as well as travelers eager to unlock all its natural treasures.
