What riches have been found in Alaska?

* Gold: Gold was first discovered in Alaska in 1867, and the Klondike Gold Rush of 1896-1899 brought thousands of people to the region. Alaska has produced more than 1,100 tons of gold, worth over $30 billion at today's prices.

* Oil: Oil was first discovered in Alaska in 1901, and the Prudhoe Bay oil field was discovered in 1968. The Prudhoe Bay oil field is one of the largest in North America, and it has produced more than 13 billion barrels of oil.

* Natural gas: Natural gas was first discovered in Alaska in 1957, and the Cook Inlet natural gas field was discovered in 1959. The Cook Inlet natural gas field is one of the largest in the United States, and it has produced more than 20 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

* Coal: Coal was first discovered in Alaska in 1848, and the Bering River coal field was discovered in 1901. The Bering River coal field is one of the largest in the United States, and it has produced more than 2 billion tons of coal.

* Other minerals: Other minerals that have been found in Alaska include copper, lead, zinc, silver, platinum, and palladium.