Discover Alaska!
Information Resources For,
About, and By Alaskans http://sled.alaska.edu/akfaq/
akfaqindex.html
Quick Facts about Alaska, Maps of Alaska, Chronological History, Weather, Native Population, Trans-Alaska Pipeline, State History, Transportation, Economy, State Song, etc.
National Snow and Ice Data Center’s Education Page
http://nsidc.org/glaciers/
Like great rivers of ice, glaciers have sculpted mountains and carved out valleys. They continue to flow and shape the landscape in many places today. All About Glaciers is a glacier site with something for everyone from glaciologists to grade school students, exploring nearly all aspects of glaciers including data and science, facts, a gallery, a glossary and much more.
Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park
http://www.nps.gov/klgo/
Gold! Headlines read in 1897, starting the rush. Thousands, hoping to ease the woes of economic depression, sold farms, dropped businesses and boarded ships to follow their dreams north. They braved icy passes to reach the interior of Canada, only to find the gold claims staked by prospectors who preceded them. A few struck gold; many more returned home penniless, yet richer for the adventure.
National Park Service Information Page on the Chilkoot Trail
http://www.nps.gov/klgo/planyourvisit/chilkoottrail.htm
The Chilkoot Trail is one of two main routes to the Klondike that originate in this area. Long before the gold rush, the trail was established by Tlingit people as a trade route into the interior of Canada. Fish, seal oil and seaweed were traded with the First Nations peoples for moose and caribou hides, plant materials and other goods unavailable on the coast. The most challenging way to follow in the footsteps of the stampeders and natives is by hiking the 33-mile-long Chilkoot Trail, accessible only on foot. It is a difficult hike and usually takes three to five days. The trail begins at the Taiya River bridge near the Dyea townsite and travels over the Chilkoot Pass to Lake Bennett.
The Juneau Icefield
Research Program www.juneauicefield.com/
Since 1946, JIRP has conducted long term research on the interrelationships of the earth systems disciplines to understand the total environment and resource potentials of arctic and mountain regions. For more than two months every summer, 70 to 100 students, professors and research scientists participate in the Institute’s programs. Participants are in the field for the entire period, during which they traverse 150 miles of the Juneau Icefield from Juneau to Atlin by ski and by foot. Constant close association with a magnificent natural environment and well-trained field staff account for an intense and memorable experience.
Alaska Wilderness League’s Rainforest Campaign www.alaskawild.org/our-issues/rainforest-campaign
Beautiful, lush, and remote, America’s rainforest in Alaska scribes a thousand-mile arc along the Pacific coast between the communities of Ketchikan and Kodiak. Along the rocky fjords of the southcentral coast and inside passage of the southeast panhandle of Alaska is a land of rock, ice, and breathtaking islands blanketed in ancient, old growth forest. It is home to the world’s healthiest remaining populations of wild salmon, grizzly bears and bald eagles. It is also home to diverse coastal towns and communities that depend on the forest’s resources for their quality and way of life.
Forest Service Information Page
www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/
The Tongass National Forest, the nation's largest national forest, covers most of Southeast Alaska, surrounding the famous Inside Passage. It offers unique chances to view eagles, bears, spawning salmon, and the breath-taking vistas of "wild" Alaska. You can take a sled-dog ride on a glacier, hike boardwalk trails, fish in streams or ocean, or just relax at a remote cabin.
Here are some resources for you to explore more in-depth the topics we discuss on our tours.
