Although police work is much the same around the world, Alaska police face some unique challenges. The state is over twice the size of Texas yet has a population of just over 650,000; about half are located in the south central area of the state, with the remainder spread over 570,833 square miles. In addition to the obvious challenges created by cold weather, many Alaskan towns are geographically isolated and inaccessible by road. Modern communications infrastructure, taken for granted in the lower 48 states, often presents a real challenge due to mountainous terrain, treacherous weather, and the sheer distance between communities.