- Gakona is not a city, but rather a small community in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area of Alaska, United States. It is located along the Richardson Highway, about 200 miles northeast of Anchorage. Gakona is a rural area known for its beautiful scenery, including mountains, rivers, and forests. It is also home to the High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP), a research facility operated by the United States Air Force and Navy. The facility studies the ionosphere and conducts experiments related to communications and the understanding of natural phenomena. Gakona does not have a large population and is primarily residential, with few business establishments.