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Alaska Ecotourism:
White is the New Green
Alaska is an abundance of ecoadventure options. Merely deciding where to go and what to see on your Alaska ecotourism adventure could keep you busy. Alaska, derived from the Aleut alasxaq, meaning mainland, has 365 million acres to explore. And in that vast space, you could visit 17 of the highest peaks in America, 100,000 glaciers, 3 million or so lakes, 47 volcanoes, and the largest national park in the US.
Wilderness and Wild Things
When I think of Alaska, I envision a frontier of white snow and ice. Large areas of the state, particularly southern and coastal, are subarctic and are wet and relatively warm. The northern extreme is polar with snow that stays on the ground most of the year.
In 1959, Alaska became the 49th state in the United States. It boasts the lowest human population density in the 50 states, so the animal-human ratio is truly and splendidly that of a wilderness.
And speaking of animals, what you are likely to see are large mammals like Black bears, Grizzly bears, polar bears, moose, wolves, and caribou. The waters are teeming with King salmon, coho salmon, Pacific salmon, sockeye salmon, halibut and rainbow trout as well as humpback whales, harbor seals, and sea otters. What you are not likely to see, due to the colder temperatures, are reptiles and amphibians.
Being close to bears in Alaska is amazing, majestic, and powerful in the primal way that gets my heart racing.
Animal watching is certainly a dramatic draw for ecotourists... seeing a Grizzly pluck spawning salmon from the Brooks River is primal and spectacular. As is viewing the largest concentration in North America of Bald Eagles along the Stikine River.
Green Alaska: Activities Galore
If water sports are your fancy, sea kayakers, canoers, and boat tours find ample rivers, fjords, and calmer inlets to quench their thirst. Prince William Sound, Glacier Bay National Park, and Kenai Fjords National Park are excellent places to paddle. If whitewater is more your speed, the Copper and Nenana Rivers offer gorgeous and challenging Class II, III and IV rapids.
For the true Alaska ecotourism adventure, the backcountry of the Denali and Wrangell-St. Elias National Parks have only three roads amidst the millions of acres. You can camp among the wildlife or opt for the wilderness lodges scattered about.
As well as being rich in animal wildlife, Alaska is wealthy in native culture. American Indians and Alaska Natives make up more than 14% of the state's population. The Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage is the state's premier cultural destination.
Exploring Alaska Ecotourism? Check out Choosing Ecotours for tips on going green.
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