Page 23 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

A POR TR AIT OF ALASK A  21

passions. Scientists report that human-
created greenhouse gases, especially
in Arctic regions, have caused rapid
changes. Alaska faces dramatic changes
as rising sea levels erode coastal villages,
glaciers continue to recede, ocean
acidification threatens fish and crab
populations, and insect infestations and
forest fires become more devastating.
Polar bears and walruses also face a
bleak future as the sea ice melts.
The Economy
Historically, Alaska’s economy revolved
around timber, fishing, and mining, but
that changed in the 1960s when oil was Alaska Pipeline with the backdrop of the Alaska Range
discovered at Prudhoe Bay. Even with
the closure of most saw mills, In addition, both tourism and govern-
commercial fishing and seafood ment agencies provide major sources
processing remain viable industries. The of employment.
most prominent export is salmon, and
Alaska provides one of the world’s last Government and Politics
wild stocks of salmon. However, In general, Alaskan politics are far
competition with cheaper farmed more conservative than most other US
salmon from Chile, Norway, Scotland, states. Due to its small population of
and other places led to declines in the around 735,000, Alaska is represented
market in the 1990s. Since then, prices in the US Congress by the usual two
have rebounded as consumers have senators but only one representative.
come to appreciate the advantages of It also has a state governor and lieutenant
wild Alaskan salmon over farmed fish. gover nor, and a bicameral legislature.
On the min ing front, the zinc mine near Unlike other states, Alaska has no county
Kotzebue and a large gold mine near governments, but is instead organized
Fairbanks are also proving profitable. into boroughs and municipalities.

Cruise ship Carnival Spirit docked at the marina in Seward

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