Matanuska-Susitna Valley is an area in south central Alaska, over 23,000 square miles in size, which encompasses the towns of Wasilla, Palmer, Huston, Big Lake, Willow and Talkeetna as well as 3 major mountain ranges, many mountain passes, rivers, working and extinct gold mines and a diverse group of people both Native Alaskans & "sourdoughs".
Like many parts of Alaska, the Matanuska-Susitna Valley was carved by glaciers. The glaciers left many small and large lakes. The two largest river systems flowing through the valley, the Matanuska and Susitna, are major salmon spawning streams, especially the Susitna River.
The valley is surrounded by the peaks of the Alaska Range, the Talkeetna Mountains and the Chugach Mountains. The Mat-Su valley terminates in silty Cook Inlet. The Susitna, Matanuska, and Knik rivers are all very active glacial streams offering much glacial silt that lends itself well to farming.
The Matanuska-Susitna valley was settled by many homesteaders as part of an experiment in the 1930s.
Also known as the Mat-Su Valley, it is centrally located north of Anchorage, Alaska and south of Denali National Park and Preserve. Agricultural crops and natural resources sustain growth and development in the valley.
