The following is a greeting given in one of the 20 indigenous languages recognized by the State of Alaska.
- Ade’ ndadz dengit’a?
- Language: Deg Xinag
- Translation: "Hello, how are you?"
Student Information
State Symbols
State Name:
The name "Alaska" is derived from the Aleut "alaxsxaq", meaning "the mainland" or, more literally, "the object towards which the action of the sea is directed". It is also known as "Alyeska", the "great land", an Aleut word derived from the same root.
State Nick Name:
"The Last Frontier"
State Motto:
"North to the Future" - Our motto was chosen in 1967 during the Alaska Purchase Centennial and was created by Juneau newsman Richard Peter. The motto is meant to represent Alaska as a land of promise.
State Constitution
Click to view the Alaska State Constitution on the Lieutenant Governor's website.
State Capital:
Juneau, located in the southeast region of Alaska, has a population of 33,277 (2015 Estimate of Population, Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development).
- The Juneau Convention
and Visitors Bureau.
Please note that this is a visitor-oriented link, not a research site. - The Official City & Borough of Juneau Website
- Visit http://www.juneau.com/ to get the flavor of the city.
Official State Holidays |
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Seward's Day |
Last Monday in March |
Seward's Day commemorates the signing of the treaty by which the United States bought Alaska from Russia, signed on March 30, 1867. |
Alaska Day |
October 18 |
Alaska Day is the anniversary of the formal transfer of the territory and the raising of the US. flag at Sitka on October 18, 1867. |
State Seal
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Flag
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The
state seal was originally designed in 1910 while
Alaska was a territory and not a state. The rays
above the mountains represent the Northern Lights.
The smelter symbolizes mining. The train stands
for Alaska’s railroads, and ships denote
transportation by sea. The trees symbolize Alaska’s
wealth of forests, and the farmer, his horse,
and the three shocks of wheat represent Alaskan
agriculture. The fish and the seals signify the
importance of fishing and wildlife to Alaska’s
economy.
The
blue field is
for the sky and
the forget-me-not,
the state flower.
The North Star
is for the future
of the state
of Alaska, the
most northerly
of the Union.
The dipper is
for the Great
Bear, symbolizing
strength.
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FishThe giant king salmon, which can weigh up to 100 pounds, is the state fish. MineralGold is the state mineral. Gold has played a major role in Alaska’s history. FossilWooly Mammoth per the 14th Legislature - 1986 |
The Purchase Secretary of State William H. Seward arranged for the United States to purchase Alaska from Russia in 1867 for 7.2 million dollars, or 2 cents per acre. Check out this link from the National Archives, it shows the actual cancelled check for the purchase! SportDog mushing is the state sport. It was once a primary form of transportation in many areas of Alaska. BirdThe pheasant-like willow ptarmigan is the state bird. This bird changes color from light brown in summer to snow white in winter. 
Land MammalThe moose was made the official Alaska land mammal when Governor Tony Knowles signed SB 265 into law on May 1, 1998. Moose can be found from the Unuk River in Southeast to the Arctic Slope, but are most abundant in second-growth birch forests, on timberline plateaus and along major rivers of Southcentral and Interior. They are not found on islands in Prince William Sound or the Bering *Sea, on most major islands in Southeast, on Kodiak, or the Aleutians groups.  |
InsectPhoto by: Bill Morgenstern, more photos can be found at: http://dragonflywebsite.comThe four spot skimmer dragonfly, per legislation (HB 239) introduced by Senator Georgianna Lincoln on behalf of elementary students in her district, and passed by the 19th Legislature in 1995 (Ch 49 SLA 95).  |
Marine MammalBowhead whale per the 13th Legislature - 1983  |
Learn More About Alaska
- History and Culture
- Outdoors
- Alaska Information
- Geography
- Sites to See
- Other Places to Find Information
- Student Information Flyer
NOTE: The State of Alaska is not responsible for the content/information on any site outside of a State of Alaska department.
Alaska Facts
State Nick Name: "The Last Frontier" - the name Alaska is derived from the Aleut word "Alyeska," meaning "great land."
State Motto: "North to the Future"
State Capital: Juneau, located in the Southeast region of Alaska, has a population of 33,277 (2015 Estimate of Population, Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development)
Alaska Map:
Alaska Flag:
NOTE: The State of Alaska is not responsible for the content/information on any site outside of a State of Alaska department.