1. In 1949, the Glacial Earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 occurred in Southeast Alaska, causing the largest recorded landslide in North American history. The entire mountain slope plunged into Lituya Bay, creating a wave that reached a height of 1,720 feet and traveled over 5 miles inland.

2. In 1969, the oil tanker SS Manhattan completed the first successful transit of the Northwest Passage, a sea route through the Arctic Ocean connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The voyage was significant in demonstrating potential commercial use of the route, which had been considered impassable due to ice and harsh weather conditions.

3. In 1989, the Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred in Prince William Sound, spilling approximately 11 million gallons of crude oil and causing significant environmental damage. The spill remains one of the largest human-caused environmental disasters in history and led to increased regulations on oil transportation and storage.

4. In 2019, the Anchorage Daily News reported that Alaska was experiencing record low snowfall for the second winter in a row, causing concerns for winter recreational activities and a potential impact on the state's economy. This trend is attributed to climate change and highlights the urgent need for action to address the planet's warming temperatures.

5. In 2020, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 occurred in the Gulf of Alaska, prompting a tsunami warning for coastal communities. The warning was later cancelled, but the earthquake was felt as far away as Anchorage and Vancouver, Canada. The event served as a reminder of the ongoing seismic activity in Alaska and the need for preparedness measures.