Anchorage: Gateway to the Alaskan Wilderness
from WorldWeb.com Travel Guide

	Anchorage's Mountain Backdrop

There aren’t any igloos in Anchorage. The mosquito is not Alaska’s official state bird, and four-wheel drive is nice, but not necessary. The largest city in Alaska offers many opportunities for even the most seasoned travellers. It is also a perfect base from which to discover the southern regions of the Alaska Peninsula, the interior and the many arctic wonders, like the Aurora Borealis. Anchorage is not just a winter destination either. There is plenty to do regardless of the season. From eco-tours to hiking to goldpanning, it's all waiting in, or within a short drive from, Anchorage, Alaska.

History:

In the early summer of 1778, British explorer James Cook began searching for the Northwest Passage with the hope of mapping a land route to the new world. During his adventures he explored the waterway now known as Cook Inlet, where Anchorage can be found. After numerous struggles, the land ended up being owned by Russia.

These struggles would continue and in 1867 Russia would sell the land that would become Alaska to the United States for $7.2 million, about 2 cents an acre. Americans were not pleased with this purchase, calling the transaction "Seward's folly" in honor of William seward, the U.S. Secretary of State who negotiated the deal.

Discovering Gold Changed the Future of Anchorage

For the next 20 years life would pass at a leisurely pace, until 1888 when gold fever drew prospectors from all across North America in hopes of discovering that secret stash that would make them rich. Paydirt was indeed hit at Crow Creek, just 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of modern downtown Anchorage. The discovery brought with it a boom in population, and 60,000 Americans traveled north seeking their fortunes. The population growth would continue through the early 1900s.

Anchorage's increasing popularity led congress to begin construction of the Alaska Railroad, with Anchorage as its headquarters. The railroad would run south to the ports of Seward and Whittier and north to Denali National Park and Preserve and Fairbanks. Designed with comfortable travel in mind, the new rail system would allow the many residents and fortune seekers a fun and scenic alternative to highway travel. With the increase in local wealth came such luxuries as privately operated tour cars, offering complete privacy, plush carpeting, imported china and gourmet food.

All this activity and growth led to the first land auction in 1915. Tent City, on the banks of Ship Creek, became home to many success stories. The population boom began to slow, and would only pick up sporadically throughout the rest of the 20th century.

Also in 1915, citizens decided on an official name, an ultimately futile effort. Voters would pick the name "Alaska City" but the federal government would veto the vote in favor of the existing name, Anchorage.

The stretch of the railroad joining Anchorage and Seward was the first to be completed and in 1918 the first train from Seward arrived. Railroad construction would continue until 1923.

The Anchorage of the 1940s was considered a great military strategic position. Soldiers flooded in to build Fort Richardson and Elmendorf Air Force Base. And just in time, as in 1942 the Japanese invaded the Aleutian Islands. This attack prompted the building of the Alaska Highway in record time, only eight months.

The war years saw a revived boom in the population. The pre-war population of slightly less than 8,000 was dramatically increased to more than 43,000 citizens.

	The Great Iditarod-America's Only Sled Dog Race

The city would take a major turn on a global scale in 1951 with the construction of the Anchorage International Airport. Locals gave the city a new nickname, the "Air Crossroads of the World". A new standard in air travel was set with transpolar airline traffic between Europe and Asia.

In 1957 another major discovery would change Anchorage, and Alaska, forever. Oil was found in great subterranian pools near Swanson River on the Kenai Peninsula. Soon after this discovery President Eisenhower would sign the Statehood Act and in 1959 Alaska officially became the 49th state.

Devestation would find its way to Anchorage on Good Friday in 1964, when the largest earthquake in North American history would tear through southern Alaska. The quake measured 9.2 on the Richter Scale, took 125 lives, and caused more than $300 Million in property damage. Anchorage was the hardest hit, and lost more than 30 city blocks during the 3 minute catastrophe.

The city would bounce back strongly, however, and in four short years would discover another hidden oil field in Prudhoe Bay. Alaska became a wealthy state. The 800-mile trans-Alaska Pipeline was built to manage the growing oil reserves, and completed the project in 1977at a cost of $8 billion. The oil of northern Prudhoe Bay would be sent to Valdez in the south, where it could be more easily distributed throughout the industrialized North America.

Anchorage would gain international attention in 1985 when the United States Olympic Committee chose it to host the 1992 Winter Olympic Games.

By the turn of the 21st century, the population had reached more than 260,000 people, an impressive 41% of the entire population of Alaska.

Climate:

Contrary to popular opinion, it is not always dark in Anchorage. In fact, the shortest day is the Winter Solstice, which falls around December 21, and brings with it seven hours and 35 minutes of daylight. After that, daylight increases until the Summer Solstice, around June 21, which sees almost a full 24 hours of sunshine. Nor is it always cold. Anchorage recieves warm Japanese winds off the Pacific side, and is sheltered by the Chugach Mountain Range on the east. While the winter months bring much lower temperatures (an average low of 20º Fahrenheit, or -7º Celsius), the climate is closer to that of the Canadian Rockies than the Arctic. Bearing that in mind, dressing in layers the best option. For a better idea, review the "Clothing" section of "Backcountry Skiing and Snowboarding in the Canadian Rockies". In the summer months, temperatures settle at an average high of 70º Fahrenheit (18º Celsius).

Transportation:

There are many ways to travel to Anchorage. The Anchorage International Airport offers regular flights throughout North America, Asia and Euproe. The airport is served by "The People Mover", Anchorage's local transit system, in the morning and mid afternoon. The system takes passengers through the city center.

The Alaska Railroad runs regular daily trips to Portage and Seward in the south, and to Denali and Fairbanks in the north.

The Seward Highway runs through downtown Anchorage before heading south to the city of Seward. While driving on the Seward Highway, headlights are a must. It is actually against the law to drive on the Seward without lit headlights. Anchorage is connected to all points north via the Glenn Highway.

City traffic is fairly laid back, but there are a few things to keep in mind. First, most of Anchorage has two hour metered parking. Change is an asset. Second, disabled parking spots are marked by a blue curb. Watch for these curbs. Third, there is RV parking in the downtown area, but it is limited.

Sights and Attractions:

Aurora Borealis, The Northern Lights

One of the best loved attractions in Anchorage is not unique to the area. The Aurora Borealis, or "Northern Lights" can be seen from many places across North America, but it is truely a remarkable sight when viewed from the smaller, more remote cities. That is to say that cities like Anchorage are not as bright or congested as other cities, like New York, NY. Where there are fewer city lights, and less polution, the night sky is clear and visibility is enhanced.

Once thought to be the breath of warriors long gone, or torches lit to lead the dying to heaven, the colorful lights of this natural phenomenon are actually formed when charged particles guided by the Earth's magnetic field hit the atmosphere near the poles. The collision of these charged particles with gas atoms and molecules from the upper atmosphere—namely oxygen and nitrogen—transforms some energy into the visible light that characterizes the Aurora Borealis. The pattern changes as it is viewed, a dancing celebration of the universe in action. The best time to see the northern lights is at night, in early spring or mid-fall.

By far the most visited attraction in all of Alaska is Portage Glacier, just 50 m (80 km) south of downtown Anchorage. Here, curious visitors can touch ice that is thousands of years old. Portage Glacier is known as a "freshwater glacier", a glacier that runs into a lake. In this case, the lake was formed by the receding glacier, and so is called Portage Lake. Information on the the formation of glaciers, as well as the ice age itself, can be found in the Begich Boggs Visitor Center.

Nature lovers will find Anchorage offers many opportunities to explore their passions. The close proximity of Anchorage to the Gulf of Alaksa and the Pacific Ocean make for excellent Whale and bird watching, favored past times of locals and visitors alike.

The Alaska Zoo in the southern end of the city is another great stop for seeing the many creatures of the north. Here visitors can watch the rehabilitation of orphaned and injured animals, join art classes and learn about sketching zoo animals, enroll in one day camps studying arctic animals, take an Alaskan Safari ride or purchase artwork painted by the first elephant brought to the state.

	Denali, The Great One

The more adventurous travelers may enjoy a visit to the nearby Mount McKinley, the highest peak in all of North America. At 20,320 feet (6,194 meters), the peak is also known by its native Athabaskan name of Denali, meaning The Great One, and can be seen for hundreds of miles. Interest in climbing Mount McKinley is growing, in part because it is not a particularly challenging or advanced climb, but the weather is more unpredictable and at times more unforgiving than any other peak in the Western hemisphere.

After a day of climbing, sightseeing or whale watching, a great and relaxing stop is the Anchorage Museum of History and Art. The museum offers a children's gallery, a pictoral history of Alaska, the work of Alaska's native artists, and a mini jazz festival.

There are even a few curious attractions that can't be found anywhere else. Events like the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, founded in 1973. The race begins in downtown Anchorage with more than 30 mushers, or dog sled "drivers", and usually runs about one month in total. The race is fairly demanding and many competitors drop out along the way.

**An important note to be aware of is that currency exchange is limited in Anchorage, and even though automated teller machines are fairly common it is best to have some U.S. currency on hand before arriving. Also, while there is no sales tax in Anchorage (unlike most other areas of the United States), there is an 8% bed tax at hotels and B&Bs.