Is Alaska an island?

Well Alaska is definitely not an island, it is actually connected to Canada. We do have a lot of coast, which makes fishing a huge attraction for tourists and locals. In the summers fishing becomes a regular activity for many families. On the weekends they will go out and spend all weekend fishing and camping. This is so much fun to just leave the city and spend the weekend with family and friends. Fishing also brings many summer jobs to Alaska. People for m all over the world come to commercial fish in the summers. It also gives students in high school or college a well paid summer job even though it is very hard work. One fun activity that happens every year is called the Silver Salmon Derby. They tag some specific fish earlier in the year and whoever catches one of the same tagged fish wins a prize. Also whoever catches the heaviest fish wins $10,000! People from all over come to participate in this competition. This is a picture of some halibut I caught with my cousin and dad on a fishing trip last summer.

FUN FACT!!! Alaska has more coast than the whole lower 48 put together!

Is there snow all year round?

Even though Alaska is colder than what people in the lower 48 are used to, Anchorage still gets a summer without snow. The summers are beautiful, the sun does not set until midnight so the days seem so much longer! The snow normally beings to fall in late October or early November and it will constantly stay on the ground until late April. I don't think the winters are too cold in Anchorage they are just really long. On top of the long winters the days get really short, the sun will rise around 10am and set around 4pm. This makes many people depressed, but it does not really affect me because it is so gradual. The Alaskan weather seems so extreme to someone who has never visited, that is true but it is very adjustable.

FUN FACT! Alaska is the state that is the most North, East, and West! 

Do You Ride a Polar Bear to School?

This commonly asked question, that again is completely a huge misenterpretation. I live in Anchorage, the biggest city in Alaska, we drive everywhere. The only public transportation we have is the city bus but no one ever takes this because driving is so much more convenient in this type of city. Polar bears are actually no where near Anchorage, they are much farther north, sadly I have never seen one in the wild before. Brown bears and black bears are common to see on hiking trails not far from the city. I have actually experienced many encounters with bears and I do not particularly enjoy them. The most common wild animal to see is a moose, they can be found around the city, in neighborhoods, at schools, crossing streets or even in your front yard! This is an abandoned baby moose I found at the beach this summer :(

Fun Fact! In small villages in northern Alaska everyone drives four wheelers and snowmobiles everywhere! Even elementary kids have their own and they drive themselves to school. This is a elementary school parking lot in a small village in Alaska.