Alaska Pacific University

Discover Anchorage

Wilderness

The word "Alaska" conjures up wonderful images in people's minds. images of panoramic natural beauty. images of wildlife roaming freely. images of mountains, rivers, glaciers, forests, and northern lights.

Do these images capture the essence of Alaska? Absolutely, for if there is one defining truth about Alaska, it is that Alaska is one of the last wild places on earth. Consider the following:

Alaska is larger than California, Texas, and Montana combined, and is one-fifth the size of the United States.

Alaska has more wilderness acreage than all other states combined. The Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is the largest national park in the U.S. (six times larger than Yellowstone).

Alaska is home to 17 of the 20 highest mountains in North America, including Denali (Mt. McKinley), at 20,320 feet the highest peak in North America. The national park that surrounds Denali is larger than the State of Massachusetts.

Alaska contains 3 million lakes and 3,000 rivers, including an 1,875 mile section of the Yukon River.

Alaska has 100,000 glaciers, some larger than entire states.

Alaska has more eagles than all other states combined, and the largest number of grizzly, black, and polar bears, moose, caribou, and wolves.

What's wonderful about the Alaskan outdoors is that you can control the extent of your experience with it. It has the capacity to satisfy those who seek a full and active immersion, those who simply want to stand back and appreciate it from afar, and everyone in between.