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The Alaska Panhandle, sometimes referred to as Southeast Alaska, is the southeastern portion of the coast of the U.S. state of Alaska, which lies just west of the northern half of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The majority of the panhandle's area is part of the Tongass National Forest, the U.S.'s largest national forest. In many places, the international border runs along the crest of the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains.The Alaska Panhandle is the northern terminus of the Inside Passage a protected waterway of convoluted passages between islands and fjords, beginning in Puget Sound in Washington state. This was an important travel corridor for native canoeists, as well as gold-rush steam ships, and in modern times is an important route for ferries and cruise ships. The Panhandle has a land area of 91,008.18 km2 (35,138.46 square miles), comprised of four entire boroughs and three census areas, in addition to the part of Yakutat Borough lying east of 141° West longitude. Although it has only 6.14 percent of Alaska's land area, it is larger than the state of Maine, and almost as large as the state of Indiana. The 2000 census population of the Panhandle was 72,954 inhabitants, about 42 percent of whom were concentrated in the city of Juneau.

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Local News from KTVF Fairbanks via Yahoo! News

U.S. missile defense sensor test called successful

Jul 19, 2008 4:25 pm

The Missile Defense Agency and Boeing say a missile launched from Alaska was successfully tracked today by land-, sea- and space-based sensors.

House prepping for gas line vote next week

Jul 19, 2008 4:25 pm

State lawmakers are slated resume their work on several pieces of energy legislation.

Iceberg damages boat near Juneau

Jul 19, 2008 4:25 pm

A 55-foot Seattle-based boat that struck an iceberg is safe in port in Juneau.

Fairbanks parade will be held Saturday

Jul 19, 2008 4:25 pm

The Golden Days Grande Parade is one of Fairbanks' largest community events, and people are getting ready to celebrate.

NTSB considers Alaska grounding report

Jul 19, 2008 4:24 pm

The National Transportation Safety Board says it will meet next week to consider a report on the grounding last year of a cruise ship near Juneau.

Alaska volcano sends out more ash

Jul 18, 2008 11:39 pm

The U.S. Geological Survey says Okmok Volcano in Alaska is producing more explosions and ash plumes.

Cannon pulled up from Cook Inlet shipwreck

Jul 18, 2008 10:09 pm

Alaska's State Historic Preservation Office reports that divers have recovered a bronze cannon from a ship that sank in Cook Inlet 140 years ago.

U.S. oil and gas rig count up by 6

Jul 18, 2008 7:40 pm

The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States rose by six this week to 1,928.

McCain, Obama hedge on costly new Marine One

Jul 18, 2008 7:40 pm

John McCain and Barack Obama vow to reform the nation's defense procurement if elected president, yet each is unwilling to take a firm stand against the skyrocketing cost of a...

In Aleutians, risks grow with ship traffic

Jul 18, 2008 7:40 pm

Ship traffic through the Aleutian Islands is growing, along with the risk of accidents.

Local News from Fairbanks Daily News-Miner via Yahoo! News

Fairbanks housing market holds steady

Jul 20, 2008 7:57 am

Home sales around Fairbanks stuck close to normal this spring, according to numbers reported Wednesday by the Greater Fairbanks Board of Realtors.

Palin unveils new public safety plan for Alaska

Jul 20, 2008 1:57 am

ANCHORAGE -- Gov. Sarah Palin on Saturday identified her "new direction" for the Department of Public Safety.

Alaska's former top cop says he felt pressure to fire trooper

Jul 19, 2008 8:12 pm

ANCHORAGE -- Former Department of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan acknowledged that he felt pressure from administration officials and family members of Gov. Sarah Palin to fire a Palmer Alask...

Nikiski toddler drowns in lake

Jul 19, 2008 8:12 pm

NIKISKI -- Alaska State Troopers say a 1-year-old girl was found drowned in a Kenai Peninsula lake.

Fairbanks firefighters respond to structure fire

Jul 19, 2008 8:27 am

Fairbanks Firefighters responded to a structure fire in an apartment off Hamilton Avenue and B Street, down a gravel alleyway Friday afternoon.

Alaska-launched missile defense sensor test called successful

Jul 19, 2008 3:12 am

LOS ANGELES -- A missile launched from Alaska was successfully tracked Friday by land-, sea- and space-based sensors in a test of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, the U.S. Missile Defense Ag...

Proposed trail in Eagle River spurs concerns of bear encounters

Jul 19, 2008 2:12 am

ANCHORAGE -- An Anchorage game biologist says a proposed trail linking Eagle River High School to Chugach State Park is in the heart of grizzly bear country.

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