Juneau: The Capital Without Roads

PicoBuddyUpper ElementaryInformational2 min read325 words
Image for Juneau: The Capital Without Roads

Juneau: The Capital Without Roads

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a capital city that you can't drive to? That's Juneau, the capital of Alaska! It's a unique place with a fascinating story.

A City Surrounded by Nature

Juneau sits nestled between mountains and the ocean in Southeast Alaska. Unlike most capital cities, there are no roads connecting it to the rest of the state! Imagine that ā€“ no highways leading in or out. The only ways to get to Juneau are by boat or plane. This special location makes Juneau a truly unique place to live and visit.

Why No Roads?

You might be wondering, why doesn't Juneau have roads? The answer lies in its challenging geography. The city is surrounded by steep mountains, glaciers, and a vast icefield called the Juneau Icefield. Building roads through such rugged terrain would be incredibly difficult and expensive. Itā€™s much easier to travel by water or air in this part of Alaska.

Life in Juneau

Glossary
Terrain:
The physical features of a piece of land.
Thriving:
Growing and doing well.
geography:
The study of Earth's natural features, such as mountains, rivers, and landforms.
isolation:
The state of being set apart or far away from other places and people.
rugged:
Having a rough, rocky, and uneven surface.
glaciers:
Large, thick bodies of slow-moving ice that form over many years from packed snow.

One passage, many ways to practice

Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts ā€” all built from this text.

  • Main Idea

    Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.

  • Summarize

    Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.

  • Structure

    Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.

  • Vocabulary

    Practice words from the passage with a printable worksheet.

  • Writing Prompts

    Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.

  • Fix the Sentence

    Practice editing sentences drawn from this passage with a printable worksheet.

Ready to use this passage in class?

Start free with the Mixed worksheet and 3 PDF downloads each week. Focused skill sets depend on plan.

Sign up with emailLog in

Preview questions from this passageShow
  1. 1Why is Juneau different from most capital cities?
  2. 2What are the two main ways to get to Juneau?

Where this passage belongs

Part of a collectionGeography Reading PassagesExplore the whole collection Ā· 27 passagesAbout this regionAlaskaExplore more readings and facts

About this informational passage for Upper Elementary

ā€œJuneau: The Capital Without Roadsā€ is a informational reading passage about Alaska Geography, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 2 minutes to read (325 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.

Is this passage free?

Yes. With a free account, you can read ā€œJuneau: The Capital Without Roadsā€ online and download a printable PDF worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.

What reading level is ā€œJuneau: The Capital Without Roadsā€?

Itā€™s written for Upper Elementary ā€” a informational text about Alaska Geography, about a 2-minute read (325 words).

Whatā€™s included with this passage?

An illustrated reading passage, a glossary of key terms, comprehension questions with an answer key, and an interactive quiz.

Can I adapt it for my students?

Yes. Remix is included with Pro and Max for adapting it to another grade level or language.