Alaska Information

View additional information about Alaska and related shipping, freight and transportation.

Alaska State Facts

Alaska is big! From north to south it is 1,420 miles. From east to west it is 2,400 miles wide with 6,500 miles of coastline and, including islands, 33,904 miles of shore. 

Seventeen of the 20 highest peaks in the United States are located in Alaska, including Mt. McKinley, which is the tallest mountain in North America at 20,320 feet from top to bottom.

The AlaskasState park system is the largest in the United States with over 3 million acres and including preserves and monuments -- a staggering 54 million acres total. 

It is estimated that there are 100,000 glaciers in Alaska which cover about 28,800 square miles of land.  The largest Alaskan glacier is the Malaspina, covering 850 square miles.  The greatest concentration of tidewater glaciers (with a most spectacular view) are located in Prince William Sound.

Are you shipping to Alaska, relocating to or from Alaska? Get more information about our services from American Fast Freight, to our warehousing and distribution or American Relocation pages.

Alaska's State Flag Adopted by the Alaska Territorial Legislature in 1927, Alaska's state flag was designed by John Benson, a seventh grade Aleut student from Chignik. The blue typifies the evening sky, sea mountain lakes and wild flowers, the gold significant of the wealth in Alaska's hills and streams. The seven stars form the constellation Ursa Major (the Big Dipper), the eighth star is Polaris, the North Star.

Protecting Alaska’s Coastal Waters

The waterways and fishing industry are important to Alaska’s economy and protecting the environment while ensuring the safety of all mariners is very a high priority.

From law enforcement, icebreaking for shipping lanes, search and rescue to defending our country’s boarders, the United States Coast Guard plays a vital and effective role in Alaska. 

Based in Juneau, the 17th Coast Guard District is responsible for the waters around Alaska. With over than 2,500 active duty members, the U.S. Coast Guard performs several hundred search and rescue missions each year, saving many lives. 

In addition to six C-130 aircraft and twelve helicopters, the Alaska 17th the Coast Guard District employes 15 floating units that include buoy tenders, patrol boats, cutters, and boat stations. All of which are almost always in use on the harsh Bering Sea or across the vast Alaskan coastal waters.

Alaska Railroads

In 1902 the Alaska Central Railroad company began construction of a railroad line starting at Seward and building northward.  In 1909 the Alaska Northern Railroad Company bought and extended the same line to a total of 72 miles.  But demands for shipping and reaching Alaska’s interior were persistent and by 1914 the United States government, under President Woodrow Wilson’s direction purchased the rail line and dramatically expanded its reach.  

By 1923, President Warren G. Harding commemorated 500 miles of railroad track built in the Alaska frontier..!  Since then, the Alaska railroad system was purchased by the State of Alaska (in 1985 for 22 million dollars) and now offers passengers and freight access to Alaska’s remote and most scenic areas.

Passenger trains run during the tourist season between May and September, with daily shipping from Anchorage to Seward, Whittier and Fairbanks and weekend only service to Fairbanks in the winter (a 12 hour trip each way).  Passengers can sign up for vacation packages that include but not limited to dog mushing, cruises, rafting and flights around Mount McKinley.  Rail cars feature single level seating throughout the trains with dome cars offering spacious viewing of the beautiful Alaska scenery. 

Taste of Alaska

Mouth watering recipes from America's the last frontier, enjoy!

Quick Alaska Salmon Chowder
Serves: 4, prepration time is about 20 minutes.

1 can (14.75 oz.) or 2 cans (7.5 oz. each) traditional pack Alaska salmon OR 2 cans or pouches (6 to 7.1 oz. each) skinless, boneless salmon
1 Tablespoon butter OR margarine
1 small onion, chopped
1 Tablespoon flour
3 cups skim milk
2 cups (8 oz.) frozen hash brown potatoes with peppers and onions (O'Brien style)
1 can (8 oz.) drained or 1 cup frozen corn kernels
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper or pepper blend seasoning
2 Tablespoons sherry, if desired
1/4 cup bacon bits, divided

Drain salmon, reserving liquid; discard skin and bones (if any). Break salmon into chunks, set aside. Melt butter in 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add onions; cook and stir 5 minutes. Add flour; cook 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Add milk and salmon liquid, bring to a boil. Stir in potatoes, corn, seasonings, and 2 tablespoons bacon bits. Return to simmer, and cook 5 minutes. Stir in salmon and sherry, if desired; heat through. Ladle soup into bowls; sprinkle with remaining bacon bits.

Spicy Variations: Add Mexican, Cajun, OR Southwest seasoning to taste.

Source: Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute

Alaska Salmon with Gnocchi and Roasted Red Pepper
Recipe serves 4, prepration time is about 10 minutes.

1/2 cup roasted red bell pepper
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 to 1/2 whole jalapeöo pepper, chopped
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 cup chicken broth
1 package (1 pound) vacuum-packed prepared potato gnocchi (dumplings) OR 4 cups cooked orzo
4 Alaska Salmon steaks or fillets (4 to 6 oz. each), fresh, thawed or frozen
1 Tablespoon olive, canola, peanut or grapeseed oil
1 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning

In blender, puree red peppers, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, cornstarch, jalapeöo, and garlic. Blend in cilantro and chicken broth. In a small saucepan, cook and stir pepper sauce over high heat until boiling. Reduce heat; cover and keep warm. Cook gnocchi according to package directions; keep warm.

Rinse any ice glaze from frozen Alaska Salmon under cold water; pat dry with paper towel. Heat a heavy nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Brush both sides of salmon with oil. Place salmon in heated skillet and cook, uncovered, about 3 to 4 minutes, until browned. Shake pan occasionally to keep fish from sticking.

Turn Alaska salmon over and sprinkle with seafood seasoning. Cover pan tightly and reduce heat to medium. Cook an additional 6 to 8 minutes for frozen salmon OR 3 to 4 minutes for fresh/thawed fish. Cook just until fish is opaque throughout.

To serve, add 1/2 cup parmesan cheese to gnocchi. Portion 1 cup gnocchi onto each serving plate; drizzle with sauce. Top with Alaska salmon and drizzle with remaining sauce.

Source: Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute

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