Alaska

Question 1

Opportunity (fishing)

Answer 1

COMMERCIAL fishing in the central,
southeast and western regions is
economically important as it employs
one in ten Alaskans, provides 78,500 jobs
and adds $6 billion to the state
economy; fish for salmon, crab and
whitefish

Question 2

Challenge (inaccessibility)

Answer 2

• In winter, the only way to get to some
  towns is via air or dangerous ice roads. In
  summer there are no ice roads to some
  towns because the ground is too soft.

Question 3

Opportunity (mineral extraction)

Answer 3

Alaska was known as ‘gold rush state’ in late
1800s and ⅕ the state’s mining wealth still
comes from gold—almost $3bn in 2006

Question 4

Challenge (mineral extraction

Answer 4

Humans and ecosystems can be harmed by
toxic chemicals used to process iron ore such
as mercury, cyanide and nitric acid