Thomas Howell, age i2, of Portland, Me., For his question:

Who named Alaska?

The Aleutian Islands curve like a necklace across the far north Pacific Sea. They were named for the Aleut Indians who lived their   and the Aleut Indians named the state of Alaska. Their name for the big state sounded somewhat like Alayeksa, but perhaps this word was too hard for us to say. In any case, the Aleut name for Alaska meant The Big Land.

And Alaska is a big land indeed. It is more than twice as big as giant Texas. Including the aieutian Islands, it is more than 2500 miles wide, and its length from north to south is more than 1000 miles. And in the big land of Alaska stands.Mt. Mckinley, the highest peak in all of North America.