Welcome, everyone, to a brand new series: Myth Monday! Every Monday, we’ll be busting some of the most common myths we hear — especially the ones that pop up when talking about Alaska and wildlife.
If you’ve ever chatted about moose, maps, or mysterious animal facts, chances are you’ve heard a few of these myths before. And we’re here to set the record straight — one Monday at a time.
Stay tuned, stay curious, and get ready to rethink what you thought you knew!
This Week’s Myth: “Alaska is an island.”
Yes, really — this one comes up more often than you’d think.
And we totally get it. If you haven’t been up here yet (seriously, you should come — it’s super cool), there’s a decent chance you’ve seen a map that made you believe Alaska is just hanging out somewhere off the coast of California, right next to Hawaii.
Myth: “Alaska is an island — I’ve seen it floating near Hawaii on maps!”
Truth: Not even close! Alaska is very much attached to mainland North America and shares a huge land border with Canada.
In fact, Alaska is the largest state in the U.S. — more than twice the size of Texas — and it stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the Arctic Circle. It’s home to glaciers, massive mountain ranges, sprawling forests, and countless species of wildlife that depend on its wild, connected landscapes.
So why does this myth exist?
It all comes down to map design.
To save space and make everything look neat and tidy, many U.S. maps use what’s called an “inset box” layout. Alaska and Hawaii are placed in their own little boxes beneath the Lower 48 — not because they’re actually located there, but because it’s more convenient for printing and displaying the whole country on one page.
This design shortcut is super common — in classrooms, travel brochures, even government websites — but it ends up giving people a totally wrong impression of where Alaska really is.
Here’s the truth:
- Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America.
- It borders Canada to the east.
- It’s surrounded by the Arctic and Pacific Oceans, and it’s a short hop across the Bering Strait from Russia.
- And it’s one of the wildest, most ecologically rich places on Earth.
So nope, not an island. Just a massive, beautifully rugged piece of the mainland — with bears, moose, eagles, and tons of natural wonder.
Why It Matters for Wildlife
Understanding where Alaska actually is isn’t just geography trivia — it’s a huge part of understanding how wildlife moves, survives, and thrives across North America.
Because Alaska is connected to the rest of the continent:
- Millions of birds migrate through Alaska on their journeys between continents.
- Marine mammals like whales travel up the coastlines, often from Baja California all the way to the Arctic.
- Land animals like wolves, bears, and caribou rely on wide, connected ecosystems that stretch across borders — and across thousands of miles.
So the next time someone tells you Alaska is floating next to Hawaii, you can confidently say:
“Actually, it’s a continental powerhouse — and a very important place for wildlife.”
Welp, now that everyone is in the know about this important topic, I feel good. Tune in next Monday to hear what myth we will be breaking!