The Games > Contingents > Alaska
Alaska
has been a permanent member of the Arctic Winter Games since 1970 and
has participated in every Arctic winter Games since then. The 2006 Games
were held in the Kenai Peninsula Borough.
The largest of the American states by area, Alaska borders Yukon and British Columbia to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south. The landscape contains vast mountain ranges, including the Brooks Range, Alaska Range and the Coast Mountains. Denali, North America’s highest peak soaring upwards at 20,320 feet is part of the majestic Alaska Range. Running through the heart of the state’s interior is the Yukon River.
The United States purchased the territory of Alaska from Imperial Russia in 1867 and Alaska became the 49th state in 1959.
The economy in Alaska is built primarily on resource-based industries including mining, forestry, fishing and offshore oil production. With its vast wilderness and beautiful coastal areas, Alaska continues to be a popular tourist destination too.
About 15 percent of Alaska’s residents are aboriginal people of Tlingit, Aleutian and Inuit origin.
Alaska Facts
| Area | 1,717, 854 sq. km |
| Population | 663,661 |
| Capital | Juneau |
| More Information | Travel Alaska |
| Number of participants at the 2006 Arctic Winter Games | 361 |
| Team Website | Team Alaska |
