Intriguing Anchorage,
set amidst spectacular mountains and the sea, is Alaska's only metropolis. Home to nearly
half of Alaska's population, Anchorage is extremely diverse -- modern high-rises rub
shoulders with log cabins, high-speed trams co-exist with dog-sleds. Introduce yourself to
the special elements of Alaskan life and culture here -- spend a day or two soaking up the
natural beauty and stocking up on your supplies before you take off into the Alaskan
wilderness.
A young city, Anchorage was born in
1915 as a tented city for construction workers busy building the Alaska railroad. Over the
years, people from the rest of the US in search of fame and fortune swelled the ranks of
the city. The completion of the Alaska Highway and the establishment of the airport led to
further increase in population and size. Today, Anchorage serves as a transportation hub
for the rest of the state.
Situated on the Cook Islet and west of
the Chugach mountains, Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska. It is a modern city with
high rise buildings in steel and glass and this prompts the true Alaskan to say that
Anchorage is located just outside Alaska! Just a half hour drive away from the wild and
beautiful wilderness of the forests, this city is a major gateway for all tourists wanting
to explore the rest of Alaska.
Anchorage has a maritime climate
the summers being cool and winters really cold. Summer lasts from May to September
with temperatures in the region of 65 º F in June, July and August. In December and
January, temperatures drop to a freezing 5º F.
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