Alaska lies between Canada and Russia on the Bering Strait in the Arctic Ocean. The 7.2 million purchase was considered crazy in 1867, but then gold was found.
- With an area of 1.7 million square kilometers, Alaska is the largest state in the United States.
- The capital is Juneau.
- Alaska was only accepted into the Union as the 49th state in 1959.
Juneau – Endless deserted forests, moose and bears, snow-capped mountains and rugged coastlines: this is the image most people have of Alaska.Despite the low population density, the northernmost state in the USA is one of the wealthiest due to its natural resources.
- ABBREVIATIONFINDER.ORG: Overview of state Alaska, including major cities and most commonly used abbreviations of Alaska.
Alaska: History and Establishment of the State
The indigenous people of Alaska probably once moved from Asia to North America over an existing land bridge before rising sea levels separated the continents. From the 17th century, Russian explorers made attempts to reach Alaska before the first Russian fur trading posts were established in 1783.
Over time, Russian traders penetrated the south as far as San Francisco. But due to the huge distance to the capital St. Petersburg and the dangerous passage through the Arctic Ocean, the colony was more and more difficult to administer for the Tsarist Empire. In 1867 Russia sold the land to the United States for 7.2 million.
For a long time the purchase was considered one of the greatest craziness in US history, but when gold was found at Klondike in 1896, settlers flocked north. On January 3, 1959, the state was finally founded.Due to the geographical proximity to the Soviet Union, this played an important strategic military role at that time.
The Alaskan Economy Today
The Klondike gold rush was soon history again, but in 1968 black gold was found in Prudhoe Bay. The huge oil fields account for 85 percent of the income and have made Alaska one of the wealthiest states in the United States. All residents of the state are involved through the Alaska Permanent Fund.
In addition, the regional economy benefits from other mineral resources, the forests and the abundance of fish. Because of the geography of the state, agriculture and industry play a minor role.
Alaska: Geography and Cities
With over 1.7 million square kilometers, Alaska is the largest state in the United States. It is also often referred to as the “Last Frontier” (the last frontier). The lowlands of the Yukon River are framed by mountain ranges in the south and north. Denali (Mount McKinley) is the highest mountain in North America at 6, 190 meters. In the southeast, a narrow strip of coast extends along the border with Canada, the Alaska Panhandle. According to COUNTRYAAH.COM, the capital of Juneau, with a population of around 32, 000, is also located here.
The economic center and by far the largest city of Alaska is Anchorage with a population of almost 300, 000. Other cities of note are Fairbanks and College.
Alaska and its people
Alaska is the US state with the highest percentage of Native Americans in its population.
- 6% describe themselves as American Indian or Alaska Native.
- There are 60.2% white, 3.7% black and 7.3% Latinos as well as numerous people who belong to more than one ethnic group.
In addition to English, an estimated 20 different indigenous languages are spoken in Alaska. As a sign of a new respect for the original inhabitants of Alaska, Mount McKinley was given its traditional name Denali back in 2015.
Alaska and the elections
Alaska has been a Republican bastion for decades. Only larger cities like Anchorage and Juneau have a majority vote for the Democrats.
If John McCain had won the 2008 election, Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, would have become vice president. In the 2016 elections, Donald Trump won 51.3% of the vote, while Hillary Clinton only got 36.6%.
Kobuk Valley National Park
Kobuk Valley National Park covers an area of 6,757 km2 in northwest Alaska. The park is located about 40 km north of the Arctic Circle, surrounded by the Baird Mountains and Waring Mountains.
Kobuk Valley is considered one of the wildest national parks in the United States – there are no roads or access roads. The only way to get to the park is to use air transport. In it itself you will find many hiking trails. In winter, the park becomes a popular place for dog sledding.
The river Kobuk flows through the park, which actually gave it its name. It also includes 65 km2 of sand dunes, which were formed here for many thousands of years by the activity of glaciers. The park itself was declared in 1980 and today preserves the unique, wild and unspoiled Alaskan nature, which has become home to many species of wildlife. For example, just across the sand dunes Great Kobuk Sand Dunes verde reindeer migration route caribou.
Kobuk Valley National Park, with the neighboring Noatak National Preserve and Gates of the Arctic, forms one of the largest protected areas in the world.