Private Swap - Alaska

Alaska is the largest state of the United States by area; it is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent. Approximately half of Alaska's 698,473 residents live within the Anchorage metropolitan area. As of 2009, Alaska remains the least densely populated state of the U.S.

Alaska was purchased from the Russian Empire on March 30, 1867, for $7.2 million at about two cents per acre ($4.74/km²). The land went through several administrative changes before becoming an organized territory on May 11, 1912, and the 49th state of the U.S. on January 3, 1959. The name "Alaska" (Аляска) was already introduced in the Russian colonial time, when it was used only for the peninsula and is derived from the Aleut alaxsxaq, meaning "the mainland" or more literally, "the object towards which the action of the sea is directed". It is also known as Alyeska, the "great land", an Aleut word derived from the same root. (via Wikipedia)

Tree: Sitka Spruce                            Fish: King Salmon

Gem: Jade                                        Bird: Willow Ptarmigan

Flower: Forget-me-not                     Motto: North to the Future

Thank you Nancy!