Discover the Top 11 Amazing Fun Facts About Anchorage, Alaska You Never Knew!

1. Flower Paradise and Jedi Heaven

Anchorage, Alaska may just be the world's top destination for both flower enthusiasts and aspiring Jedi Knights: As the "City of Lights and Flowers," it's a prime spot for witnessing the spellbinding Northern Lights from September to April, while its lush, vibrant flower displays evoke a famous galaxy far, far away. No lightsaber required to explore the 200 miles of trails packed into the neighboring Chugach State Park, though – just a sense of adventure and a hearty laugh!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Floatplane Central

Where floatplanes dare: Anchorage, Alaska – a place where moose and bears mingle in vast forests, alongside the unlikeliest of travel companions – hundreds of airborne, water-kissing vehicles! Yes, Anchorage proudly boasts the world's largest floatplane base, with over 600 such amphibious aviators taking to the skies from Lake Hood and Lake Spenard: providing essential transportation options to remote locations tucked away beyond the reach of asphalt roads and granting adventurers the chance to embark on exciting flightseeing escapades, or even to become pilots themselves!
Source => lawnstarter.com

Did you know that during winter solstice, Anchorage, Alaska enjoys a mere 5.5 hours of daylight, creating a beautiful pastel landscape and prime opportunities for spotting the Northern Lights? Discover more intriguing Alaskan facts!

=> Fun Facts about Alaska

3. Moose Metropolis

If you're ever feeling "moosed" in Anchorage, don't worry – you're in good company: Approximately 1,500 moose call the city and its surroundings home, casually snacking on vegetation and paying visits to local rivers and streams, all while giving residents charming photo opportunities. Just remember to keep a safe distance and admire them from afar or visit the Alaska Zoo or Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center for an up-close and educational encounter with these magnificent Alaskan icons.
Source => anchorage.net

4. Fuzzy Bear Neighbors

Bear with us, Anchorage residents are facing a fuzzy situation: The city is home to around 200-300 black bears and at least 36 grizzly bears living within its limits, leading to new laws and bear education campaigns implemented by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to keep these fur-real neighbors at bay.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Gravity-Defying Fur Rendezvous

Ready for a gravity-defying, whale of a time? Grab your walrus skin and prepare to soar like the eagles at Anchorage’s Fur Rendezvous: This iconic festival not only features winter sports and competitions, but also showcases Alaska’s vibrant native culture, highlighted by the adrenaline-inducing Blanket Toss where participants are hurled up to 20 feet in the air, paying homage to an ancient Alaska Native tradition.
Source => anchorage.net

6. Earthquake City Shake-Off

In Anchorage, Alaska, the ground is as wobbly as a well-oiled hula dancer: Surrounded by the "Ring of Fire," the city sits amid major tectonic boundaries, which subjects it to earthquakes – but not 75% more than California as previously thought. In fact, Anchorage has had 14 quakes of magnitude 6.0 or higher in the past century, while California shakes it up with over 500 in the same timeframe, as per the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
Source => forbes.com

7. Cat Mayor Supreme

In a land of moose, glaciers, and salmon galore, one feline reigned supreme, sipping on catnip cocktails like a true Alaskan aristocat: Stubbs the cat served as the honorary mayor of the small town Talkeetna, Alaska from 1997 until his death in 2017, attracting 30 to 40 tourists daily hoping to catch a glimpse of the iconic kitty politician, who would often be found enjoying water laced with catnip out of fancy glasses – helping his town of 900 residents thrive on furry tourism.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Ship Creek Fishing Fun

Looking for a reel good time in Anchorage, Alaska? We're not just fishing for compliments here, but the local spot, Ship Creek, is quite the catch: This popular fishing destination is home to king, silver, and pink salmon during even-numbered years, with the best time to fish being two hours before high tide and an hour after. So grab your gear, get your fishing license, and maybe even turn your catch of the day into dinner at a local seafood joint!
Source => anchorage.net

9. Glacier Galore

You know what they say about Alaska: it's got more ice than a hip hop artist's jewelry collection! In Anchorage, they really make it rain, with glaciers serving as their bling: Anchorage boasts of the largest concentration of glaciers in the United States, with 100,000 of these ice chunks covering almost 30,000 square miles and 60 accessible glaciers within 50 miles of the city, making it a true frozen paradise for adventure seekers.
Source => anchorage.net

10. Alaska's Oil Money Bonanza

Who knew you could strike oil just by moving north? Cha-ching, welcome to Alaska: Residents of Anchorage, and the entire state, receive an average annual payout of around $1,600 as part of the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD), managed by the state-owned corporation. Established in 1976 and valued at $64 billion in 2019, the fund is primarily fueled by oil revenues and acts as a basic income for those who have lived within the state for a full calendar year and plan on making it their forever home.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

11. Anchorage's Radio Pioneers

Before Anchorage was taking a radio stroll down memory lane, they were riding moose bareback and reading newspapers by whale oil lamp: The first radio station in Alaska, KFQD, started broadcasting in 1924, making history and saving many sore bottoms from moose rides to get the latest news.
Source => alaskahistory.org