This Day in History: U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million (about two cents an acre) on this day in 1867. "Despite the bargain price of roughly two cents an acre, the Alaskan purchase was ridiculed in Congress and in the press as 'Seward’s Folly,' 'Seward’s icebox,' and President Andrew Johnson’s 'polar bear garden.'" Source
Here are some interesting facts about Alaska:
John Carpenter’s 1982 horror classic "The Thing", although set in Antarctica, was filmed in Alaska. Many films and television shows set in Alaska are not filmed there; for example, Northern Exposure, set in the fictional town of Cicely, Alaska, was filmed in Roslyn, Washington. The 2007 horror feature 30 Days of Night is set in Barrow, Alaska, but was filmed in New Zealand.
The Alaska Triangle (the area that connects Anchorage, Juneau and Barrow), much like its counterpart, the Bermuda Triangle, is one of the most enigmatic places on Earth. Since 1988, over 16,000 people have mysteriously gone missing across its landscape, and over the years this region has played host to some of the strangest phenomena ever recorded.
There is supposedly an underground alien base in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Alaska has more coastline than the other 49 states combined.
The coldest temperature recorded there was -80 F, and Alaska actually reached 100 F in 1915.
Alaska has some weird moose-specific laws. You are not allowed to push a moose from a plane, view a moose from a plane, or give a moose a beer. It is illegal to whisper in someone’s ear while they are moose hunting in Alaska.
Seventeen of the 20 highest mountain peaks in the U.S. are in Alaska.
Alaska has more than 100 volcanoes.
Alaska has no state income tax.
Alaska has the most serial killers.
Alaska’s capital city, Juneau, is the only U.S. capital that is not accessible by road. It can only be reached by plane or boat.
Alaska is the largest state in the union (1/5 of the entire USA and twice the size of Texas).
The Northern Lights can be seen in Fairbanks 243 days a year.
In Alaska, there is approximately 1 bear to every 21 people.
Alaska's laws do not prohibit anyone 21 or older who may legally possess a firearm from carrying it concealed or open. A firearms permit is not required.
A couple of the Aleutian Islands cross the 180th meridian making Alaska the most western state AND the most eastern state.
Anchorage, the state’s biggest city, is home to the world’s largest and busiest seaplane hub.
Lake Iliamna in Alaska has its own legendary monster.
There are legends of mythical shape-shifting creatures called the Kushtaka in Alaska. It is said the Kushtaka will imitate the cries of a baby or the screams of a woman to lure victims to the river. Once there, the Kushtaka either kills the person and tears them to shreds or will turn them into another Kushtaka. You can protest yourself from the Kushtaka with copper, dogs, fire, and oddly enough...urine.
No comments:
Post a Comment