| Soils suitable for tillage are located in the lowlands and | | | | settlements are small and scattered widely with some |
| valley areas where they may have originated from | | | | concentration along the Gulf Coast. The three largest |
| river deposits. They contrast with the shallow soils on | | | | centres, Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, are service |
| the steeper slopes and uplands. Permafrost is | | | | centres for numerous resource-oriented communities, |
| common north of the Alaska Range, thawing out only | | | | fishing settlements and timber camps. To the north and |
| at the surface in summer creating waterlogged | | | | west of the railroad and highway system, on the coast |
| conditions. Roads and buildings are subject to damage | | | | and in the river valleys are a large number of native |
| in these areas. | | | | settlements, which depend on subsistence hunting and |
| Extensive coniferous forests adorn the slopes of the | | | | fishing. |
| south-eastern mountains. In the interior the forest cover | | | | Less than 10 per cent of tillable land in Alaska is used, |
| thins out giving way to grasslands and marsh. North of | | | | partly due to the expense of making the land |
| the Brooks Range are the treeless plains of the tundra, | | | | productive. The principle farming area is north of |
| supporting mosses, lichens and grasses capable of | | | | Anchorage in the Matanuska Valley. Eggs, potatoes, |
| surviving the severe climatic conditions which are | | | | dairy products, lettuces and cabbages are the most |
| present in those areas. The caribou live here as well | | | | important items produced for local consumption. |
| as wild fowl and small fur-bearing mammals, which are | | | | Farming is also found around Fairbanks. Moderate |
| essential to the native economy. | | | | climate and large areas of grassland near the Gulf of |
| River fish, such as salmon and sea mammals such as | | | | Alaska have encouraged cattle farming. |
| the seal and the whale, are also captured. In the south | | | | Vast forests are located in two main areas. The |
| the larger mammals, including the brown bear and | | | | coastal forests of the southeast produce 90 per cent |
| prolific salmon streams are an attraction to sportsmen. | | | | of the State's wood, mainly western hemlock and sitka |
| Alaska has the smallest population of all the American | | | | spruce. Both are situated near tidewater, which |
| States. About a fifth is native Indian and Eskimo. Their | | | | enables transport to the pulp mills at Ketchikan and |
| standard of living, though improving, is lower than that | | | | Sitka easy. |
| of the white population. Many depend on a subsistence | | | | Although gold has declined since the initial goldrush in |
| economy. The white population enjoys a high living | | | | the 1890s, it still remains the most valuable mineral |
| standard; many come for short and profitable periods | | | | resource. Coal is also found throughout the State, the |
| on contract, often during the summer months. | | | | most important field near Fairbanks. Other minerals |
| The temporary population gives the State a | | | | found include gravel, sand, lead and mercury. There |
| predominance of males and a per capita income, | | | | are also deposits of iron in the southeast. |
| which is one of the highest in the USA. Alaska's | | | | |