Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage is located south of Central Alaska. Anchorage, Alaska was named after a popular clothing and hardware store called "The Anchorage" that was in an old steamship that was dry docked called "Berth". It is also nicknamed "The City of Lights and Flowers" because of the tiny lights of thousands of buildings glittering throughout winter and its impressive display of flora during summer time. Throughout late spring and summer, Anchorage becomes more intense with color.

Anchorage, Alaska has a total land area of 1,960 square miles, 1,700 square miles of land while 260 square miles of it is composed of water. The total area of it is made up of 13.5% water. The weather on Anchorage, Alaska is very unpredictable all year round. It has an average temperature of 8º Fahrenheit to 22º Fahrenheit. It also has an average 69.5 inches of snow fall every winter. Its holds a record high of 25.7 inches of snow on March 17, 2002 which caused closure to airports and schools for a few days. However, a typical summer in Anchorage, Alaska is very mild and pleasant with occasional rain. The average annual rainfall of Anchorage, Alaska is 15.7 inches. During summer times, mosquito is the major nuisance of the area and on winter it has very short days and long nights. Most of the population of Anchorage, Alaska does not see the sun all week long for they sometimes go to work while it is still dark and go home also in the dark.

With over an estimated total of 280,000 in population, Anchorage is the largest city in the state of Alaska and it holds over 42 percent of the population of Alaska. Anchorage receives 95 percent of all shipments that enters Alaska; it is Alaska's major port and the center of commerce. A number of oil and gas producers have their center of operations in Anchorage, Alaska.

Anchorage has lots of unique points of interest. It has lots of beautiful cross-country ski trails. Anchorage also has a great deal of wild animals. Brown bears, black bears and moose migrate along the Chugach State Park into the Anchorage Bowl. Some residents even found a moose on their front yard and some of these brown bears even enter the city and are active during nighttime. Large array of seasonal migratory birds are also found in Anchorage. It is surrounded by various mountain ranges that is warmed by the maritime climate that is found in the center of the vast Alaska wilderness.

From the railroad camp in the forest of the early times to the modern and urban area of the city, Anchorage is an animated and diverse metropolis that has a frontier essence.