The information and map that follows has been reprinted from the 1947 edition of Collier's World Atlas and Gazetteer. This is the complete, unedited text and graphics.

ALASKA. - Physiography. - Alaska is situated at the northwestern extremity of North America. Much of the northern part is swampy and traversed by numerous steams, which begin in hills far back from the coast. The Yukon River divides Alaska into two nearly equal parts, a northern part and a southern. The Coast Range extends through the southern part and continues in the Aleutian Islands. There are many detached peaks and several active volcanoes. Large glacers, of which Muir and Malaspina are the most remarkable, descend from the mountains to the Pacific. Portions of the Territory, as the Kuskokwim district and the southwest, are capable of growing vegetables and such cereals as barley and oats. In the warmer valleys wheat can be brought to maturity. In the southern half of the Territory there are many large forests. Birch, spruce, cedar, fir, and hemlock abound. Poplars, willows and alders, aspens, and larches are found farther north. Grass grows everywhere. The winters are very cold in the interior, but are much milder along the Pacific Coast and in the southeast, the average winter temperature there being only 35° F. There is copious rainfall along the coast, and fogs are common. Throughout most of the Territory the summers are hot, and vegetation is early and luxuriant. There are several distinct volcanic areas, the most noted being the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.

Minerals. - The most valuable mineral output is that of gold. Platinum metals, coal, and silver follow in importance. Lead, tin, antimony, quicksilver, marble, and gypsum are also mined. Large coal deposits occur, including an excellent grade of anthracite. Gypsum, antimony, and graphite are found, and several petroleum wells have been sunk. Marble is quarried on Prince of Wales Island. Silver and lead occur as galena in the Katinsha district; elsewhere they are by-products of gold and copper mines.
    The total value of minerals produced in Alaska for the year 1943 amounted to $9,326,000, and the total mineral output of the Territory since 1880 reached a value of $889,420,000, about three-fourths of which was due to gold, Alaska's most valuable mineral product. The gold output for 1943 was valued at about $3,840,000. Mining operations were greatly reduced during World War II. The output of gold, silver, and lead was lessened; that of coal, greatly needed, was some 300,000 tons in 1943. Platinum metals, mercury, antimony, tin, tungsten, and chrome were produced. New deposits were sought.

Agriculture. - Truck gardening is carried on near the larger towns, and oats, barley, and wheat are grown in the southeast and in the Kuskokwim valley. Though to no very great extent, cattle and sheep are raised on the Aleutian Islands. Reindeer were introduced several years ago in the northern part of the Territory, and the experiment has proved successful. Siberian wheat is grown in the Tanana valley. Truck farms are increasing in the Matanuska district.

Fisheries. - Fish are very abundant in salt water as well as in the rivers. Several species of salmon are caught. Herring, halibut, cod (not the Atlantic cod), and the oulachan, a smelt affording much oil, are taken in large numbers. Whales are hunted in the Arctic Ocean and Bering Sea. Food fish is the most important of Alaska's products, being far more valuable than all the gold extracted from the Territory's mines. The total value of the fishery products in 1944 was $63,270,100. Salmon constitutes approximately 90% of the catch. The Pribilof Islands, the home of the fur seal, are administered by the United States Bureau of Fisheries, and the seals, protected by agreement of the United States with Great Britain and other nations, are increasing in number.

Wild Animals. - Alaska's wealth of fur-bearing animals - fur seal, sea otter, mink, beaver, fox, wolverine, lynx, ermine, marten, etc. - has dwindled, but shipments of pelts are still made every season. Government regulations have preserved the fur seal from extermination by sea robbers, and other conservation laws have been passed. Fox farming is becoming an industry of the territory. Caribou and musk oxen are still to be found in the far north.

Manufacturing. - The refining of gold ore and of the ore of other metals is carried on to some extent. Many million dollars' worth of salmon is yearly canned for export. Planing mills are in operation in various forested localities, and several flour and grist mills have been erected in the districts producing Siberian wheat and other hardy grains.

Commerce. - Alaska's coastwise commerce is increasing rapidly. At present, most of the Territory's trade is with the United States, the exports consisting mainly of copper, gold, silver, furs, and canned salmon. The most valuable imports are steel rails and tin plate. The latter is used in making cans for the fish-canning industries.

Transportation. - The Alaskan Railroad connects Seward with Fairbanks. Fairbanks is also a terminus of the new Alaska Highway, which lies chiefly in Canada. Air routes are important. Transportation is now greatly aided by the service of radio communication stations.

Population. - In 1930, the population was 59,036. In 1940, it was 72,524, an increase of 22.3 per cent.
    Early explorers of Alaska found the native population of Eskimos and Aleut Indians apparently much larger than it is now. The early part of the twentieth century saw their numbers greatly diminished because of the intrusion of the white man and his weapons and the consequent loss of their food supplies on land and sea. Contagious diseases destroyed whole villages. The introduction of reindeer proved advantageous for the natives, who exchanged the uncertain lot of the hunter for the surer life of the herdsman.
    The Alaskan aborigines are intelligent and likely to gain from industrial and educational opportunities.

History. - There is some evidence to show that Alaska was known as far back as 1576. A Russian sailor named Popof, exploring East Cape (Siberia), discovered the narrow strait between Alaska and Asia and learned from the natives of the existence of a great continent toward the east. Vitus Bering, commissioned by Peter the Great of Russia, sailed north through Bering Strait in 1731 but did not touch Alaska. In 1731 a Russian sailor, Gwosdef, was blown on to the Alaskan coast. In 1741 Bering, on a second voyage with Chirikov, reached Alaska. Various exploring parties, Russian, English, Spanish, and French, visted Alaskan territory during the last half of the 18th century, Captain Cook surveying part of the coast in 1776. In 1799 the Russian American Company secured a monopoly of the fur trade, and in 1821 Russia attempted to exclude foreigners from the Bering Sea. English and Russian fur-trading companies explored the country from 1793 down to 1867, the year in which Russian America, as Alaska was then called, was purchased by the United States for $7,200,000 in gold.
    Until 1877 authority was vested in the War Department, after which the Treasury Department assumed control. In 1884 the "Organic Act" provided civil government under a governor appointed by the President. In 1912 Alaska was oranized as a Territory with a legislative assembly of 8 senators and 16 representatives. But as Congress reserved itself the right to legislate on certain subjects, Alaska is now governed jointly by Congress and the Territorial assembly. Juneau is the capital. The Governor of Alaska is appointed by the President and serves four years.
    With the discovery of Klondike gold, Canada revived the claims of England in an old boundary dispute. In 1825 Russian America's eastern boundary had been fixed by treaty between England and Russia, with England yielding to Russia's contentions. Now three representatives from the United States, two from Canada and one from England met in London in 1903, and, by a vote of 4 to 2, decided in favor of the claims of United States.

Click on the map below for a printable pdf version of it.