Page 18 - RV Alaska

A view of Pioneer Peak taken from the top
of Bodenburg Butte near Palmer.
Photo by David Rose
Southcentral Alaska is the most populated region in Alaska
and home to over half of Alaska’s population. It consists of
the shorelines and uplands of the central Gulf of Alaska. It
has a relatively mild climate, mountains, lakes, oceans and
glaciers, making it a popular destination for visitors.
Anchorage, with close to three hundred thousand
residents, is Alaska’s largest city.
The terrain of Southcentral Alaska is shaped by six
mountain ranges, the Alaska Range, Talkeetna Mountains,
Wrangell Mountains, Chugach Mountains, Kenai
Mountains, Tordrillo Mountains and the Aleutian Range.
There are also several dormant and active volcanoes. The
Wrangell Volcanoes are older, lie in the East, and include
Mount Blackburn, Mount Bona, Mount Churchill, Mount
Drum, Mount Gordon, Mount Jarvis, Mount Sanford, and
Mount Wrangell. The Cook Inlet volcanoes, located in the
Tordrillo Mountains and in the north end of the Aleutian
Range, are newer and lie in the West. They include Mount
Redoubt, Mount Iliamna, Hayes Volcano, Mount Augustine,
Fourpeaked Mountain and Mount Spurr. Most recently,
Augustine and Fourpeaked erupted in 2006, and Mount
Redoubt erupted in March 2009, resulting in airplane flight
cancellations.
Matanuska-Susitna Valley
In the interior of Southcentral Alaska, is the Matanuska-
Susitna (Mat-Su) valley, a fertile farmland protected by
mountain ranges that is Alaska’s major agricultural area.
Because of the long summer days, vegetables can grow to
become huge. These vegetables are a popular attraction
at the Alaska State Fair where many national as well as
world records have been recorded. The State Fair is held in
Palmer every year.
In 2012, a green cabbage weighing 138.25 lbs grown by
Scott Robb of Palmer won the “Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off”
at the Alaska State Fair and set a new world record.
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA
Average Temperature
Month: Low-High
Jan: -18°F/0°F Jul: 52°F/72°F
Feb: -15°F/8°F Aug: 48°F/68°F
Mar: 0°F/24°F Sep: 38°F/55°F
Apr: 20°F/42°F Oct: 18°F/32°F
May: 38°F/60°F Nov: -4°F/12°F
Jun: 48°F/70°F Dec: -15°F/0°F
Population (2023 estimates)
Southcentral Alaska...............471,211
(Not all towns are listed)
Anchor Point.............................. 2,295
Anchorage..............................289,653
Cooper Landing. ............................361
Copper Center. ............................. 305
Cordova. ......................................2,540
Gakona............................................186
Gateway......................................6,249
Glennallen. ..................................... 424
Homer. .........................................5,669
Kenai.............................................7,614
Knik-Fairview. ...........................20,748
Meadow Lakes........................... 9,726
Palmer. ........................................ 5,918
Seward. ........................................2,582
Soldotna. ..................................... 4,574
Sterling. ........................................ 6,225
Talkeetna. .................................... 1,076
Tanaina........................................ 9,078
Valdez.......................................... 3,852
Wasilla . ........................................ 9,459
Whittier............................................255
Willow.......................................... 2,429
Visitor Information
ANCHORAGE
Log Cabin & Downtown Info Center
anchorage.net • (907) 257-2363
CORDOVA
Cordova Chamber of Commerce
cordovachamber.com • (907) 424-7260
GLENNALLEN
Greater Copper Valley Chamber
Of Commerce
coppervalleychamber.com • (907) 822-5555
HOMER
Homer Chamber of
Commerce & Visitor Center
homeralaska.org • (907) 235-7740
KENAI
Kenai Chamber of Commerce
& Visitor Center
visitkenai.com • (907) 283-1991
PALMER
Palmer Visitor Information Center
palmermuseum.org • (907) 746-7668
Mat-Su Convention
and Visitors Bureau
alaskavisit.com • (907) 746-5000
SEWARD
Seward Chamber of Commerce & CVB
seward.com • (907) 224-8051
TALKEETNA
Talkeetna Denali Visitor Center
talkeetnadenali.com • 1-800-660-2688
VALDEZ
Valdez Visitor Information Center
valdezalaska.org • (907) 835-2984
WASILLA
Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce
Convention & Visitor Bureau
wasillachamber.org • (907) 376-1299
Glaciers & giant cabbages
Photo: Clark James Mishler | Alaska State Fair
& VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER
History Tours, Bicycle Rentals & More!
723 S Valley Way, Palmer, Alaska
palmermuseum.org | 907.746.7668
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State Fair
Alaska State Fair
Palmer, Alaska (Mile 40 Glenn Highway)
August 16–September 2, 2024
www.alaskastatefair.org
Farmers Markets
Anchorage Farmers Market & Festival
15th Avenue at Cordova Street, in the Central Lutheran
Church parking lot.
May 11-October 12, Saturdays 9am-2pm
Homer Farmers Market
1211 Ocean Drive
May 25-September 25, Saturdays 10am-3pm
& Wednesdays 2pm-5pm.
Kenai Old Town Marketplace
517 Main Street in old town Kena.
May 14-September 25
Friday & Saturday 11 am-6pm
Matanuska Community Farmers Market
713 S Denali St, Downtown Palmer. June 12 - End of
September, Wednesdays, 4pm–7pm
Nikiski Market Monday
52951 Porter Avenue
June 26-August 14, Mondays, 11am–4pm
Palmer’s Friday Flings
Across from the Palmer Museum of History and Art.
May 17-August 9, Fridays, 11am–6pm
Soldotna Saturday Farmers Market
Corner of Kenai Spur Highway and East Corral Ave.
June-September, Saturdays ,10am–2pm
Willow Farmers Market
Wasilla’s Iditapark at the corner of Nelson and Weber
streets. June - Mid-September, Wednesdays 10pm–5pm
Know the Bear Necessities
Alaska is home to three species
of North American bears. While
you won’t be seeing a polar bear
along Alaska’s highways, you may
encounter a grizzly or black bear.
Alaskan bears wear coats of many
colors. Grizzly bears range from
blonde to almost black. Black bears
can be grey, red or brown. There
are also Glacier bears, a blue-grey
black bear colored to be better
disguised while on glacial ice.
Bears spend most of their time
eating or looking for food to eat.
Bears seen along roadways
are usually looking for tasty
vegetation that comprises
about 90 per cent of their
diet. Don’t let them learn that
human food or garbage is an easy
meal. Never feed a bear. Keep your
campsite clean at all times!
Safety when roadside bear viewing
Traffic safety comes first. Pull over
only if it is safe to do so. Be sure you
aren’t blocking traffic and be aware
that some roads have soft shoulders.
Also ensure other vehicles can see
you over a hill or around a corner in
plenty of time to avoid a collision.
If the bear stays around and doesn’t
mind being watched, keep your doors
closed and stay in the vehicle. Open
the window just enough to take
pictures.
Most bears will try to avoid humans.
Try not to surprise a bear; always
make your presence known. Talk
loudly while hiking and shout out
frequently. Don’t pack smelly food for
your meals. Pack out your garbage
too.
If you see a bear that is far away or
doesn’t see you, turn around and go
back. If you come across a bear that is
close or if a bear sees you, stay calm.
Do NOT turn and run! Instead, stand
tall, wave your arms, and speak with
authority.
Be Bear Aware in Alaska
TO LEARN MORE VISIT DNR.ALASKA.GOV/PARKS/SAFETY/BEARS.HTM
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