A vast land of overwhelming beauty, abundant resources, and few people, America's Last Frontier stretches across some 660,000 square miles (1.7 million square kilometers) of rugged land. More than a third of mineral-rich Alaska is forested; a quarter is set aside as parks, refuges, and wilderness. The Alaska Range, pictured above, stretches from Canada's Yukon border in the east to the base of the Aleutian Range in the west.
There are 58 national parks in the U.S., as varied as the country that houses them. We've gathered everything you need to know to set off for a summer adventure, plus photo galleries, quizzes, maps, and more.
Merry-go-rounds, deep-fried corndogs and high-flying Ferris wheels mark the start of state fair season. Submit your best summer fair pictures to the newest category of My Shot and view photos from other fairs across the country.
The desolate beauty of Alaska's Seward Highway offers the chance to explore nature uninhibited by human influence. Whales, waterfalls, glaciers and ocean fjords all await travelers of this remote locale.
