Alaska Self Storage

Some consider Alaska the world’s last great frontier due to its vast areas of sparsely populated wilderness filled with wildlife and vegetation that has not been greatly impacted by humans. Visitors often come to experience this undisturbed country firsthand and are awed by everything from the mountains and wildlife to the glacial bays and Northern Lights. Limited roads and long periods of cold make this a rugged country and has created a need for self storage facilities to protect items like cameras, canoes, snowmobiles, skis and camping supplies from the elements when they are not in use.

Activities

Despite Alaska’s cold temperatures and long hours of light or dark, people can find many things to do. Here are just a few:

• Keep tabs on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, a dogsled race that runs for 1,150 miles from Anchorage to Nome.
• Take part in the Fairbanks World Ice Art Championships.
• View the beauty of Alaska’s outdoors on a day cruise.
• Take a day tour to one of the state’s historical spots. For instance, take a train ride along the trail of the Yukon gold rush.
• Visit a fishing lodge.
• Pan for gold.
• Slap on a pair of snowshoes and trek through the snowy countryside.
• Tour former Russian towns and buildings.
• Visit one of Alaska’s Native heritage centers.
• Watch the bald eagles gather along the Chilkat River during October to January salmon run.
• Take a day hike.
• Fly to a glacier.
• View wildlife by air on a flightseeing tour.
• Take a ferry ride along the state’s 3,500-mile marine highway.

Geography

In terms of area, Alaska is the largest state in the country with 570,373 square miles, more than twice as much as Texas. In contrast, the state has relatively few citizens, less than 700,000.

Juneau is Alaska’s state capital. Although on the mainland, no highway connects it to the outside world. People must take a plane or ferry to reach it. Juneau is not the largest city in the state. Anchorage, known as the ‘Gateway to Alaska,’ takes this honor with more than a quarter of a million residents. Traveling further inland, visitors will find the town of Fairbanks, which is considered the ‘Golden Heart of the Interior.’ The northernmost town is Barrow.

Climate

Rainfall, snow and temperatures vary widely throughout Alaska. Most areas tend to be cold and snowy in the winter, but the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska moderate the effects of the frigid arctic air in some areas. The area around Juneau in the southern panhandle usually gets the most rain and remains the warmest. In the winter temperatures are often above freezing during the day. The area in the south-central part of the state around Anchorage tends to be sunnier and fairly warm for Alaska. The central area around Fairbanks can see vast extremes with summer temperatures in the 90s (Fahrenheit) and winter temperatures colder than 60 below. The west varies dramatically in precipitation levels with one area being technically a desert; however, temperatures are fairly warm for being so far north. In contrast, the area around Barrow tends to have snow almost the whole year with temperatures in the short summer commonly staying close to freezing.

Taking advantage of the snowy climate is part of the Alaskan experience. Residents and tourists alike acquire a lot of winter gear that must be stored during the off-season or while not in use. Alaska offers self storage facilities that lease for the short- or long-term. Additionally, not everyone has room to store sporting equipment and outdoor winter vehicles. Even those that do may prefer to remove excess clutter and organize this type of equipment in a nearby self storage unit. For many the best option may be to rent a climate-controlled unit that is designed to protect contents from extreme heat, cold or humidity. Those who rent a self storage unit in Alaska should be sure the company has a good snow removal policy so that renters can get to their winter items when they need them.

Similarly, Alaska’s shorelines provide many opportunities for water adventures. Alaska offers many self storage options for those who need a place to store boats, paddles, lifejackets and beach gear.

Industry

About four-fifths of the money earned in Alaska comes from extracting oil from the state’s large oil fields. In addition, the state has large supplies of other natural resources, including natural gas, coal, timber and precious metals like gold. The state also supports a large fishing industry. Alaska’s terrain gives it the potential to develop green energy alternatives such as hydroelectric, wind and geothermal power. At this time most jobs in the state come from extracting natural resources, the government, shipping, transportation and the military.

Tourism is a growing part of Alaska’s economy. After Alaska became America’s forty-ninth state in 1959, a large amount of land was set aside for more than state and national parks. These attract tourists who come to hike Mount McKinley - the largest mountain in North America, kayak amidst the glaciers in Glacier Bay, and visit dozens of museums that display everything from Native American art to aircraft, often for free. The Interior Passage along the Atlantic coast draws large numbers of tourists on cruise ships.

For small businesses and companies that do a lot of outdoor work, a self storage facility can be a great place to store paperwork, tools or supplies needed for site work.

Education

Over a dozen universities and colleges educate students in Alaska, including state schools like the Universities of Alaska in Anchorage and Fairbanks and the University of Alaska Southeast.

Students may find they need a little extra room to store boxes of out-of-season clothes, last semester’s reports and sporting gear that takes up too much room in a cramped dorm room. A self storage unit may be just the place.

To find a self storage company that fits your needs, use StorageFront’s easy-to-use tools.