Alaska covers an area of nearly 600.000 square miles and is the biggest state of United States. It is the less populated state also. The weather can vary greatly by region and season. Alaska consists of high mountains, volcanoes, moist Pacific air and the cold Arctic ice pack. These factors influence the air mass that blows over Alaska and Yukon Territory and its air transport schedule also. The high mountains have a great influence to the wind that blows over Alaska from the south and southwest. The warm moist air that comes from the Pacific Ocean usually produces clouds in the form of fogs and low stratus clouds. Alaska has the biggest glaciers in the whole United States, sometimes they reach 50 feet in length per single winter season.
The Alaskan year is not divided into rainy and dry seasons. It receives warmth and rain through the year equally.
This frozen paradise gives nearly endless days in the summer period. In the summer period the sun of Alaska shines until 11PM giving enough light for wildlife viewing, hikes, kayaking and other types of exploration. In the summer time north of the Arctic Circle territories get permanent daylight that is been called the Midnight Sun, but in the winter period these areas remain in darkness for several months. The Midnight Sun shines from approximately May 10 to August 1. The darkness lasts from approximately November 18 to January 23. The temperature tends to rise each year in the whole world and Alaska is not an exception. Much research has been done using satellite and aerial photographs, not to speak of research activities and measurements made on the ground of Alaska by researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Bonanza Creek Long-Term Ecological Research Program. Research has proven that in a period between 1950 and 2002 more then 10,000 Alaskan lakes have shrunk in size or dried up completely. Research shows also that the biggest temperature increase happened around 1977, but it turned back to normal winter temperature again around late 80s. These events caused many negative events and even natural disasters like intense and extensive wildfires, bark beetle outbreaks, shrunk or completely dried up Alaskan water tables.
Thousands and thousands of tourists that plan in their vacations to visit Alaska would like to know about the weather there and what clothes should they pack. The second thing that they would like to know is how much daylight there will be. Since Alaska is located near the Arctic circle, asking this question is not something stupid, but it makes a lot of sense. But if the information given above did not scare you away and you are still planning to visit Alaska, then here are some tips to make your travel even more pleasant. The travel season that includes outdoor activities or other types of exploration is relatively short. The best time to visit Alaska is in the summer months starting from May and ending in September. Regardless of which regions of Alaska you are going to visit, the best way to dress is in layers because the weather in Alaska can change quite quickly. If you would like to be as comfortable as possible in terms of clothing, then take jeans, slacks, sweaters, sweatshirts, t-shirts (short and long sleeve), a rain jacket and comfortable walking shoes with you.
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