Alaska is home to unique wildlife, including polar bears, brown bears, fox, muskox, moose, Dall sheep, sea otters, wolves, caribou, birds, and many more. Juxtaposed against Alaska's grand mountains, tundra, and coastal shores, these animals lure visitors with hopes of seeing them in their wilderness habitat. 

The Aurora Borealis, also called the northern lights, are a light-show that appears  in northern latitudes. Electrically charged particles from the sun create colorful light emissions when they collide in the upper earth's atmosphere.  Alaska's northern location makes viewing ideal during the dark sky months.

Alaska's economy is largely driven by the oil industry, tourism, and commercial fishing, with mining, timber, and agriculture and transportation playing a minor role. Since the oil and gas industry contribute significantly to the state's budget, world oil prices influence many sectors of the economy. 

Giant mountain ranges span across Alaska in nearly all directions. These ranges alter weather and climate patterns and funnel water into the many rivers that eventually reach the sea. The Brooks, Alaska, Aleutian Ranges, Chugach, and Kenai mountains, and of course, Denali, are only a few of the many.

When one thinks of Alaska, thoughts, and images of nature leap to the forefront, it is a land that embodies wildness like few other places on the planet. People visit to see its dramatic landscape, winding rivers, tundra, wildflowers, cascading glaciers, northern lights, diverse wildlife, and rugged elements of true wilderness.

The panorama photos were taken from all regions of Alaska. Because of their long and thin format of approximately 1 x 3 ratio, they work well for specific layout and design applications. Many were stitched together from multiple digital files resulting in extra high-resolution images suitable for larger publications and fine art prints.

Alaska is vast and diverse. For geographical description purposes, it's broken up into five distinct regions. The North (Arctic), Interior, Southcentral, Southeast, and Southwest. The regions are differentiated by latitude, geography and habitat, Other notable areas include Prince William Sound, and Arctic Coastal Plains.

Alaska's minimal road system does not reach many of the towns and villages. The few that crisscross the state are locally referred to by name, rather than a number. The Geroge Parks, Richardson, Glenn, and James Dalton Highways are commonly traveled by visitors. Road repair is limited to an abridged summer season.

While Alaska's overall population is under a million, the many towns and villages scattered throughout its varied terrain offer unique and vibrant expressions of life. The state capital city of Juneau, Anchorage, Fairbanks, and smaller towns and villages like Sitka, Utquiagvik (Barrow) and Nome are popular destinations.