It is a battleground between conservationists,energy and mining interests. More than a third of the mineral-rich state is forested. A quarter is set aside as parks,refuges and wilderness. Fisheries team with salmon,halibut and shellfish-staples of indigenous peoples for millenia. This disaster raised new concerns over opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge,with it's herds of 180,000 Caribou, to petroleum exploration.
Agriculture is seafood, nursery stock, dairy products, vegetables and livestock.
Before we start our journey through this huge land, we have to decide how to travel and what to wear. You had better bring every kind of clothes and be able to travel in many modes if you expect to comprehend the vastness of land and climate. Alaska is divided into large sections for reference. They are Southeastern,Southcentral,Southwestern,Western, Interior and Arctic Climate varies from the 90's above F in summer,down to 80deg.below zero in winter. Most extreme temps are in the Interior area.