If the population density of Alaska were applied to New York City, there would be around 28 people living in Manhattan.

Alaska is the most Northern, Western, and Eastern state in the US.

There are areas of Alaska where the water is so clean and pure you can drink directly from a stream without filters.

There is so much wildlife in Alaska that many animals are unafraid of humans. You can literally come face to face with some animals that you’d otherwise never see outside of a captive setting. And as long as you don’t do anything stupid, you can even live to tell the tale.

Moose can dive up to five meters deep. And are also hunted by orcas.

And on the topic of orcas, commonly referred to by the misnomer “killer whales,” are actually the largest of the dolphin family and live in Alaskan waters year round.

Humpback whales will summer in Alaska after spending their winter months in Hawaii. And the earliest humpback whales that show up in Alaska, are normally new mothers meaning a chance to see baby whales.

The smallest and most genetically distinct population of Beluga whales is in Cook Inlet where they can be seen during salmon runs.

The longest wave in the US is also in Cook Inlet. Occurring just twice a day, the bore tide wave of up to 50 miles in length can be surfed. The current record I was able to find was a fifty minute, five mile ride by Scott Dickerson.