Julie Padgett, age 14, of Pocatello, Ida., for her question:

HOW LONG IS THE ALASKA HIGHWAY?

The Alaska Highway is a road that runs between Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada, and Fairbanks, Alaska. It is 1,523 miles long and it runs in a general northwest direction along the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains, across rough terrain.

Alaska Highway is the official name now. It was formerly called the Alaskan International Highway and the Aican Highway.

Construction on the road was undertaken by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in March, 1942, shortly after the U.S. entered World War II, and it was intended to provide an overland military supply route to Alaska. It was completed in November, 1942.

The Canadian section, which is 1,221 miles long, was turned over to the Canadian government in 1946. In 1948 the entire route was opened to civilian traffic.

The highway, which is paved in Alaska and mostly gravel surfaced in Canada, is open to traffic the year around. Gasoline stations, sleeping accommodations and roadside facilities are available along the entire route.