November | 2012 | Hanging with Harry

When I grow up I want to live some place really, really cold. I have always loved cold weather. I have thought of living in Norway, Russia, or Alaska. I think Alaska sounds like the best option for me right now.

Alaska is called the land of the midnight sun. In the northernmost part of Alaska, the sun never sets in the summer, and in the winter, the sun never comes up. This is because Alaska is so close to the Arctic Circle. Did you know that Alaska is the biggest state in the USA? Alaska’s shoreline is bigger than the entire US Atlantic coast?

Alaska has the tallest mountain in North America; Mt. McKinley, sometimes called Denali. There are mountains everywhere you look – there are thirty nine mountain ranges in total! (A mountain range is a group of mountains)

Alaska has fascinating animals like the beluga whale, the arctic fox who’s hair goes white in the winter and brown in the summer, the humpback whale, grizzly bears, polar bears, and the musk ox who’s has a very funny hairdo.

Did you know that in Alaska, more snow falls than melts every year? This is why Alaska has so many glaciers! They have almost 100,000 glaciers. Did you know that glaciers can move?

Some day soon I would love to move to Alaska and enjoy the great outdoors!

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Challenge 8

My favorite animal is a moose. They have amazing antlers and a strange body! Moose are huge. They can be bigger than a six foot man. The moose is one of our Canadian symbols!

Moose are herbivores, which mean they eat plants like twigs and leaves. The word “Moose” comes from an Algonquin Indian word meaning twig eater. Pretty cool.

Moose are pretty calm….. most of the time. But if you see one in the wild, don’t approach it. If it’s hair on it’s hump is sticking up, or it’s ears are back, or it’s licking it’s lips – you’d better run!