Alaska's Five Regions

Alaska is a land of superlatives and adventure. The Great Land consists of five distinct regions: Inside Passage, Southcentral, Interior, Arctic, and Southwest. Click through for information on what makes each region unique, regional weather, sub-regions, and Alaska maps.

ARCTIC

The Arctic is one of Alaska’s most remote and diverse regions, filled with cultural opportunities, unique wildlife, and a landscape ranging from the Arctic coastline to broad stretches of tundra.

INSIDE PASSAGE

Shaped by the staggering force of massive glaciers millions of years ago, Alaska’s Inside Passage stretches 500 miles along the Pacific Ocean and boasts wildlife-filled fjords, tidewater glaciers, and lush island scenery.

INTERIOR

In Alaska’s heartland, you’ll see the continent’s tallest peak, Denali, and wide expanses of tundra. The forests are teeming with wildlife ranging from the formidable grizzly bear to large herds of caribou to the state bird - the willow ptarmigan. 

SOUTHCENTRAL

Traditional lands of the Athabascan people, Southcentral Alaska is home to more than half the state's total population and Anchorage, the state's largest city.

SOUTHWEST

For those with a sense of adventure and a naturalist streak, few places on earth compare with the wonders of Southwest Alaska. Brown bears gather in large numbers to feed on salmon and more than 240 bird species inhabit the area’s wetlands and coastline.