7.Alaska officially became the 49th state on January 3，1959.
8.Alaskas most important revenue source is the oil and natural gas industry.
9.Alaska accounts for 25%of the oil produced in the United States.
10.The state of Rhode Island could fit into Alaska 425times.
11.Prudhoe Bay［普拉德霍湾（靠美国阿拉斯加州北部，附近地区富石油和天然气）］，on the northern Alaskan coast，is North Americas largest oil field.
12.The TransAlaska Pipeline（管道，传递途径）moves up to 88，000barrels of oil per hour on its 800mile journey to Valdez（瓦尔迪兹［美国阿拉斯加州南部港市］）.
13.The fishing and seafood industry is the states largest private industry employer.
14.Most of Americas salmon，crab，halibut（大比目鱼），and herring（青鱼，鲱）come from Alaska.
15.The term Alaska native refers to Alaskas original inhabitants including Aleut［（爱斯基摩人中的）阿留申人］，Eskimo（爱斯基摩人）and Indian groups.
16.The wild forgetmenot is the official state flower.The Territorial Legislature adopted it in 1917.
17.The willow ptarmigan is the official state bird.The Territorial Legislature adopted it in 1955.
18.The Sitka spruce is the official state tree.The Territorial Legislature adopted it in 1962.
19.Dog mushing is the official state sport.The Alaska Legislature adopted it in 1972.
20.An unnamed draftsman（起草人，立案者）created the state seal in 1910.It consists of a rising sun shining on forests，lake，fishing and shipping boats，and agricultural and mining activities.
21.The state motto is North to the Future.
22.The jade （碧玉，翡翠）is the official state gemstone.
23.Gold is the official state mineral.It was named the state mineral in 1968.
24.The fourspot skimmer（撇乳器）dragonfly（蜻蜓）is the official state insect.
25.In 192613yearold Bennie Benson from Cognac［白兰地酒的一种（产于法国的Cognac）］，Alaska designed the state flag.
26.Alaska has been called Americas Last Frontier.
27.Every four years Alaskans elect a Governor and a Lieutenant Governor（副总督，副州长）to fouryear terms.
28.The Alaska State Legislature is made up of a Senate and a House of Representatives.
29.Twenty senators are elected to fouryear terms；forty representatives serve twoyear terms.
30.Alaskas Constitution was adopted in 1956and became effective in 1959making it the 49th state.
31.Nearly onethird of Alaska lies within the Arctic Circle.
32.The Alaska Highway was originally built as a military supply road during World War II.
33.The state boasts the lowest population density（密度）in the nation.
34.The discovery of gold in the Yukon began a gold rush in 1898.Later gold was discovered at Nome［诺母（美国阿拉斯加州西部的一个城镇）］and Fairbanks（费尔班克斯）.
35.Alaska is a geographical marvel（奇迹）.When a scale map of Alaska is superimposed on a map of the 48lower states，Alaska extends from coast to coast.
36.The states coastline extends over 6，600miles.
37.Alaska is the United States largest state and is over twice the size of Texas.Measuring from north to south the state is approximately 1，400miles long and measuring from east to west it is 2，700miles wide.
38.Agattu，Attu，and Kiska are the only parts of North America occupied by Japanese troops during World War II.
39.Oil is the states most valuable natural resource.The area includes what is thought to be the largest oil field in North America.
40.In 1986Mount Augustine erupted（爆发）near Anchorage.
41.Alaskas geographic center is 60miles northwest of Mount McKinley［麦金利山［美国阿拉斯加州中南部］（即德纳里峰）］.
42.The Tongass National Forest is the largest national forest in the United States.
43.17of the 20highest peaks in the United States are located in Alaska.
44.At 20，320feet above sea level，Mt.McKinley，located in Alaskas interior，is the highest point in North America.
45.Juneau is the only capital city in the United States accessible only by boat or plane.
46.The states largest city is Anchorage［安克雷奇（美国阿拉斯加州南部的港口城市）］；the second largest is Fairbanks.
47.The Alaska Range is the largest mountain chain in the state.It covers from the Alaska Peninsula to the Yukon Territory.
48.In 1915the record high temperature in Alaska was 100degrees Fahrenheit（华氏温度计，华氏温度计）at Fort Yukon；the record low temperature was—80degrees Fahrenheit at Prospect Creek Camp in 1971.
49.The Alaskan malamute（爱斯基摩狗）sled dog is strong and heavily coated.It was developed as a breed by a group of Eskimos named the Malemiuts.
50.Alaskas name is based on the Eskimo word Alakshak meaning great lands or peninsula（半岛）.
Other Information话里话外
美国小瞰
国旗：星条旗。呈横长方形，长与宽之比为19∶10。主体由13道红、白相间的宽条组成，7道红条，6道白条；旗面左上角为蓝色长方形，其中分9排横列着50颗白色五角星。红色象征强大和勇气，白色代表纯洁和清白，蓝色象征警惕、坚韧不拔和正义。13道宽条代表最早发动独立战争并取得胜利的13个州，50颗五角星代表美利坚合众国的州数。1818年美国国会通过法案，国旗上的红白宽条固定为13道，五角星数目应与合众国州数一致。每增加一个州，国旗上就增加一颗星，一般在新州加入后的第二年7月4日执行。至今国旗上已增至50颗星，代表美国的50个州。每年6月14日为“美国国旗制定纪念日”。在这一天，美国各地举行纪念活动，以示对国旗的敬重和对合众国的热爱。
国徽：主体为一只胸前带有盾形图案的白头海雕（秃鹰）。白头海雕是美国的国鸟，它是力量、勇气、自由和不朽的象征。盾面上半部为蓝色横长方形，下半部为红、白相间的竖条，其寓意同国旗。鹰之上的顶冠象征在世界的主权国家中又诞生一个新的独立国家——美利坚合众国；顶冠内有13颗白色五角星，代表美国最初的13个州。鹰的两爪分别抓着橄榄枝和箭，象征和平和武力。鹰嘴叼着的黄色绶带上用拉丁文写着“合众为一”，意为美利坚合众国由很多州组成，是一个完整的国家。
国歌：《星条旗永不落》（“the starspangled banner”曾译《星条旗》歌），歌词是一位名叫弗朗西斯·斯科特·基的美国律师在英美战争时，透过战场上的硝烟看到星条旗经过英军炮轰后仍在要塞上空高高飘扬时感慨万分而即景写下的。曲谱是“进行曲之王”苏萨的著名代表作。《星条旗永不落》于1931年被美国国会正式定为国歌。
国花：玫瑰花，象征着美丽、芬芳、热忱和爱情。1985年经参议院通过定为国花。
国石：蓝宝石
国鸟：白头海雕（秃鹰）。美国是世界上最先确定国鸟的国家。白头雕最早出现于美国的旗帜上是在独立战争期间。1776年7月4日第二次大陆会议发表了《独立宣言》并决定新生的美国必须有一个特殊的国徽。1782年6月20日，美国国会通过决议，把北美洲特有的白头海雕作为美国的国鸟，并把这种鸟作为国徽图案的主体。白头雕外观美丽、性情凶猛，头上有丰满的羽毛，它的最大特点是两头白，即白头白尾。它代表着勇猛、力量和胜利。
国名释义：美利坚合众国（The United States of America）简称美国（U.S.A.）。美国因洲名而得名。在英语中，亚美利加和美利坚为同一词“America”，只是汉译不同，前者指全美洲，后者指美国。
英语中的“America”一词有两种解释：“亚美利加”和“美利坚”，前者指全美洲，后者指美国。
15世纪，奥斯曼帝国控制了地中海沿岸，截断了从欧洲到印度和中国（欧洲人称为“东方”）的陆路交通，欧洲再也买不到印度和中国的香料和丝绸等货物。东方这个“黄金遍地，香料盈野”的好地方，对西方贵族和商人来说，具有很大的吸引力。为了开辟新航路，1492年秋，哥伦布受西班牙国王之命，带着由国王写给中国皇帝的证明信件，从欧洲向西开始了艰难的航行，当他跨过浩瀚的大西洋后，发现了巴哈马群岛、海地岛和古巴岛。哥伦布根据自已的推算，认为这是中国海域，便带着译员和介绍信前去拜会中国的皇帝。哥伦布没有见过中国人，只读过一本《马可·波罗游记》。因此，在他看到岛上的居民用鼻孔吸着卷烟，满身披挂着金银首饰，和马可·波罗描写的中国人完全不同之后才明白自己弄错了。但是，他接着又犯了另一个大错误：断定这里是印度。于是，就把自己所发现的群岛称作“印度群岛”，把生活在当地的土著居民称作“印度人”。后人为了把这个地区和印度加以区别，就把哥伦布发现的岛屿改称“西印度群岛”。中国人把这个地区的“印度人”译成“印第安人”，以便和真正的印度人区别开。而在英语和西班牙语中，印度人和印第安人是同一个词。
