Alaska (Portraits of the States Series)

Alaska gets its name from a Native American word for "the Great Land." Our forty-ninth - and largest - state is extremely rich in natural resources, especially crude oil and natural gas. It contains enormous forests, tall mountain ranges, sweeping plains, and a long chain of islands that stretches far into the Pacific Ocean. Moose, elk, bears, deer, and caribou roam freely throughout many wild areas. From the permanently frozen tundra of the north to its southern coastline, Alaska enjoys a booming tourism industry. Alaskans embrace the many lifestyle opportunities offered by their rugged, but breathtaking, landscape.