Happy Alaska Day, everyone!

[Blue_In_AK]

http://www.themudflats.net/2009/10/19/happy-alaska-day/

Happy Alaska Day! Even if you’re not in Alaska, you are encouraged to use Alaska Day to take the day off, go home early, start a parade, look North to the Future, admire the Big Dipper, have a salmon burger and an Alaskan Amber Ale and enjoy yourself.

Alaska Day celebrates the official transfer of the territory of Alaska from the Russians (who are rumored to be able to see Alaska from there) to the United States. The event happened on October 18, 1867 and is now an official state holiday.

You probably know a lot about Alaska, but here are a few things you may not know:

Alaska’s state seal is the only state seal that has on it…a seal.

Alaska was originally organized as the “District of Alaska.” Whether the unfortunate acronym “DOA” was responsible for the change to “Territory” is uncertain.

In addition to the widely known nickname “Seward’s Folly,” Alaska was also known as “Jackson’s Polar Bear Garden.” Well, polar bears sure don’t grow on trees any more.

The Tongass National Forest is the largest national forest in the United States.

17 of the 20 highest peaks in the United States are in Alaska.

If you had 425 Rhode Islands, you could fit them in the state of Alaska.

Juneau is the only capital city in the country that is only accessible by boat or plane.

Alaska has more than 6,600 miles of coastline, more than any other state.

There are about 100,000 glaciers in the state which take up about 29,000 square miles of the state’s surface. But the square footage is a little less than it was when you started reading this.

Alaska is the northernmost, westernmost and easternmost state in the union. Once we continue with our diabolical plan to annex Hawaii, we’ll have all four directions covered.

Alaska is one of the only four states that does not allow billboards. The other three are Hawaii, Vermont, and Maine.

Alaska and Maine have been referred to as the “bookends of the nation”. Canada.

Alaska leads the nation in stimulus funds, per capita.

This year Alaska overtook Nevada to become the state with the fastest growing population of elderly people.

Alaska also leads the nation in workplace fatalities, per capita energy use, rape, median credit card debt, rates of chlamydia and gonnorhea, earthquakes, alcoholism, mosquitoes, expensive gas, dog bites…and a whole lot of other depressing stuff that I don’t want to think about on Alaska Day.

On the brighter side, we also lead the nation in hiking trails, moose, volcanoes, lakes, park acreage, mineral resources, land, caribou, indigenous languages, blueberries, licensed pilots, aircraft, proximity to Santa’s workshop, outhouses, coastline, fresh water, wild salmon, glaciers and Subarus per person. We also have the lowest tax burden. And I would submit, in my humble opinion, the most breathtaking natural beauty.

And we’re second only to Hawaii in Spam consumption…but we’re working on it.

Alaska has a long way to go in many areas. It is still young as a state, and figuring out what to do with itself. Living here has challenges and rewards, and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else in the world.

Happy Alaska Day.

[tnlefty]

1. Happy Alaska Day!

LOL! Enjoy.:hi:

[damntexdem]

2. Oh my, when did they move it? Does this mean that it will have a more-temperate climate.

Or will the midwest now get even-worse winters?

And will we now be hearing about Wassila, Alabama or something?

;-)

[Blue_In_AK]

4. I like this representation...

It's better than being relegated to a little box off in the corner. :)

And I think Wasilla would be in the southwest corner of Missouri maybe?

[Zenlitened]

3. Greetings to all in the Socialist Collective of Alaska!

:hi:

[Blue_In_AK]

8. Thank you, Comrade.

[TK421]

5. I would love to visit some day...but that won't happen for a long time

[Blue_In_AK]

7. Check out some of the cruise lines.

They've been running some really great deals for the past year or so. Even if you only go to Southeast, it's well worth the trip.

[TK421]

9. Will they accept $20 down payment?

I'm unemployed now...just making a bad joke there. No, I would really love to go there...we'll see what happens. I hear it is beautiful and as far as the cold goes? I love it! :D

[Cha]

6. Oh Happy Alaska Day! 100 years,

and approximatley 2 months older than when my son was born.B-)

Thanks for those Alaska facts from good ol mudflats, Blue!