Showing posts with label Alaska. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alaska. Show all posts

August 7 - A Solar Eclipse Saved Lives?

   Posted on August 7, 2022     


This is an update of my post published on August 7, 2011:




On this day in 1869, George Davidson's knowledge of science may have saved his life.


According to historians, geographer and astronomer George Davidson led a party to Alaska to view a total eclipse of the sun. They had been warned that the native Chilkat people were angry because of earlier incidents with white people - and knowing the general sweep of history in North America - white folks taking over native lands, waging war, inflicting mistreatment - I could go on and on - I imagine the Chilkat's anger was justified.

Davidson met with some Chilkat representatives on August 6. Apparently the meeting was very tense. He told the Chilkat that he was anxious to see the total eclipse of the sun that he had predicted to occur the next day and explained that he and his group meant no harm. 

Although the Chilkat didn't seem to believe him, they left the group alone for the night. The next day, when the sun did indeed disappear as predicted, the Chilkat ended up arranging a potlatch - a ceremonial exchange of gifts. Davidson painted a view of the eclipsed sun's corona on a wooden plank, and he presented it to Kohklux, the Chilkat leader. In return, Kohklux and his wives drew a large and detailed map of their homeland and trading routes.

Nice!

The Chilkat people are known for their weaving. Check it out!







Also on this date:





(First Sunday of August)








(First Sunday of August)





(First Sunday of August)


(First Sunday of August)






(First Sunday of August)










(First Sunday of August)





Satchmo Days 
(August 6 - 7, 2022)







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June 6 - Eruption of the Century!

  Posted on June 6, 2022     


This is an update of my post published on June 6, 2011:


The largest volcanic eruption in the 1900s happened very early in the century - on this date in 1912 -

- but (thankfully) far from large cities and population centers.


Novarupta (which means “new eruption”) is located at the base of the Alaska Peninsula. It is almost 300 miles from Anchorage (Alaska's largest city) and about 750 miles to Juneau (Alaska's capital city). When it began to erupt on this day in 1912, nobody knew it for a while. Alaska was not yet a U.S. state, population density was even lower then than it is now, few scientists were studying volcanoes, and there was not yet a worldwide seismic network in place. People as far away as Juneau did hear the sound of later blasts.

For the next sixty hours, Novarupta continued to erupt, shooting gas, rocks, and ash high into the air. Compared to other famous volcanoes, Novarupta emitted 30 times more “ejecta” than did the 1980 eruption of Mount St Helens. Yet the latter volcano, even with modern monitoring and plenty of warning, killed 57 people. There were NO human deaths attributed to Novarupta! (Unfortunately, many, many plants and animals died.)


Novarupta now

(Sadly, the largest volcanoes in the 1800s were super deadly. In 1815 Tambora killed many thousands of Indonesians directly and was the cause of even more deaths because so many crops and so much forest was destroyed, and in 1883 Krakatoa killed from 36 to 120 thousand Indonesians. Obviously, these volcanic eruptions were in more densely populated areas, although they were more powerful, as well.)



Nowadays we can photograph eruptions from space!

Also on this date:






 
























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March 30 - Alaska Purchased – a Bargain or Folly?

 Posted on March 30, 2021

This is an update of my post published on March 30, 2010:


On this date in 1867, the United States bought Alaska from the Russian Empire for $7.2 million. Even though that is less than two cents per acre, some people criticized the purchase as a waste of money. Many politicians in Washington thought it was foolish to spend so much money on such a far-away chunk of land.

Secretary of State William Seward and President Andrew Johnson were especially criticized for their decision to purchase Alaska. The purchase was called “Seward's Folly,” and the cold, icy land was scorned as “Seward's Icebox” or “Johnson's Polar Bear Garden.” (And what's wrong with polar bears, anyway?)




Of course, with the discovery of oil and gold in Alaska, let alone its natural beauties and wildlife, Alaska turned out to be an amazing bargain!













Seward Day
Even though today is the actual anniversary of the purchase, Alaskans celebrate “Seward Day” on the last Monday of March—which in 2021 was yesterday, the 29th. Most things go on during this state holiday—mail is still delivered, schools are still in session, and so forth—but most state offices are closed.

Did you know...?



Alaska's state flag was designed by a 13-year-old boy. Benny Benson entered a flag-designing contest with other teens (grades 7 through 12) in 1926. Actually, he entered more than one design—but one of them actually won!

Benny won a gold watch with his design etched onto the back, plus $1000. For more info—like what sorts of things were on Benny's non-winning entries, and on most of the other designs entered to the contest—read this.

Tour Alaska Photographics' galleries.
It's like touring the landscapes of Alaska! Gorgeous! (Don't forget to check out the wildlife.)

Learn about Alaska's glaciers.




Glaciers are great masses of snow and ice. They usually move very slowly (from inches to a foot a day), moving outwards or downwards because of their great weight. That's why glaciers are sometimes called rivers of ice.

Glaciers pick up rocks and carry them along, grinding them against the land and rocks across which the glaciers move. With this grinding action, glaciers erode rock and carve out U-shaped valleys. At they move, glaciers push huge piles of rocks into piles called moraines.



Here is a short video about Alaska's glaciers.
 
These videos aren't necessarily about Alaska's glaciers, but they're great! Be sure to watch the top one, “Glacier Power.”
 
And here is an experiment you can do with simple materials to see how glaciers move.

 


Do some Alaskan puzzles.
Or, if you like your puzzles to be jigsaws, try this one.

There are many interesting native cultures in Alaska.
Check out this website to find out more.






Also on this date:






































National Doctors Day










and more Virtual Vacation Day





Plan ahead:


Check out my Pinterest boards for:

And here are my Pinterest boards for:

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