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04/10/2006
Travel to Alaska-What to Expect
North America
» Alaska
Author: Jan
If you’re planning to travel to
Alaska
in the near future, it’s a good idea to learn a little something about the fascinating land before you begin your trip. While Alaska has been a state for well over 50 years now, there is still much of the landscape in
Alaska
that remains wild and relatively un-tamed.
One of the most important things you should know about travel to
Alaska
is the regional weather. Contrary to popular opinion, the total
Alaska
landscape is not subject to snow and cold year around. In fact,
Alaska
enjoys all four seasons just like most other portions of the world.
In general, the summer temperatures in
Alaska
range between 60 and 80 degrees F. during the day, while the temperature tends to drop to around 45 degrees at night. Depending on where you tend to travel in
Alaska
, you may find the area subject to heavy rainfall in the summer. The south-east portion of the state tends to endure more rain in the summer than other areas. One of the most curious aspects of Alaskan weather during the summer is the long period of sunlight. In the far northern regions of the state, the sun shines 24 hours a day during the months of June and July. Far southeast, the sunlight decreases somewhat to only 17 hours per day. Due to the cooler night temperatures and the frequent rainfall, it’s a good idea to bring along a rain jacket if you’re planning to visit in summer.
style="COLOR: black">During the winter, the nights are almost as long as the days during summer. The sun sets incredibly early and does not rise until rather late. This makes for long, cold nights with temperatures reaches to -50 degrees F. While the temperatures are frigid, the northern lights put on a show that only nature itself could provide.
Depending on what you plan to do when you travel to
Alaska
, you should be prepared for the fact that travel modes at times can be rather unconventional. In many cases, your flight may need to stop for a brief layover or you may need to make a connecting flight to travel to
Alaska
. In addition, if you are planning to travel to some of the more remote areas of
Alaska
; be aware that the only way these areas can typically be reached is by float plan.
Supplies may be rather difficult to obtain in the more remote areas, so if you’re planning to travel to such places it may well be a good idea to stock up on items that you deem to be essential before traveling. In these areas, supplies are frequently flown in on chartered float planes. Be sure to bring along plenty of film and camcorder cassettes to capture all of your travel to
Alaska
adventure memories.
While the weather and travel in
Alaska
can be somewhat different, and even surprising, the beautiful landscape of this wilderness, along with the bountiful opportunities to observe rare wildlife, make the inconveniences well worth the effort.
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