Alaska - Development Opportunities

Question 1

Area of Alaska:

Answer 1

2 million km2

Question 2

Population rise since 1800s:

Answer 2

100,000 Inuit joined by newcomers, population is now almost 750,000

Question 3

Give the main development opportunities:

Answer 3

• Fishing (commercial and subsistence)
• Mineral Extraction
• Tourism
• Energy

Question 4

Figures about rivers, lakes, and coastline:

Answer 4

3,000 rivers, 3 million lakes, over 10,000 km of coastline - they provide several fishing-related economic opportunities

Question 5

Give the three main types of fishery:

Answer 5

Salmon, crab, and whitefish fisheries

Question 6

Jobs provided by the fisheries:

Answer 6

80,000 jobs

Question 7

Contribution of fisheries to the state economy, annually:

Answer 7

$6 billion

Question 8

Proportion of mining wealth coming from gold:

Answer 8

1/5

Question 9

Pebble Mine incident:

Answer 9

2013 it was closed down, due to opposition and campaigns - 50 businesses supported them, saying they would not buy gold from Pebble Mine

Question 10

Number of visitors/tourists each summer:

Answer 10

1-2 million

Question 11

Percentage of summer visitors coming on cruise ship:

Answer 11

60%

Question 12

Examples of activities:

Answer 12

• Fishing, whale watching, kayaking
• Hiking, skiing, rock climbing, sightseeing by helicopter
• Historical sites about the Inupiat and Yup’ik heritage

Question 13

HEP plant figures:

Answer 13

More than 50 HEP plants supply Alaskan communities with 1/5 of their electricity

Question 14

Perfect site for HEP generation:

Answer 14

Previously glaciated U-shaped valleys

Question 15

Geothermal power fact:

Answer 15

A tourist resort at Chena Hot Springs near Fairbanks is powered entirely by geothermal power