All eyes on Trump and Putin meeting in Alaska
Alaska is one of the fifty states of the United States. Alaska is the largest and northernmost state in the country. Although Alaska is much larger than the other states, approximately 740.000 people live there. This also makes Alaska the least densely populated American state. Along with Hawaii, Alaska is one of the only two states that does not border other states. To the east, Alaska borders Canada, and to the west, Alaska is separated from Russia by water. To the south lies the Pacific Ocean, and to the north, the Arctic Ocean. The capital of Alaska is Juneau. Do you know the history of Alaska?
Alaska
Alaska is one of the fifty states of the United States. The state borders to the east Canada and is further surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Bering Sea, and the Arctic Ocean. The capital of Alaska is Juneau.
Alaska was sold by Russia to the United States on March 30, 1867, for 7,2 million US dollars. On May 11, 1912, Alaska officially became an incorporated territory, and on January 3, 1959, the 49th state of the United States.
The name “Alaska” was already in use during the Russian period. Initially, the name was used only for the Alaska Peninsula, which was derived from the Aleutian “alaxsxaq”, meaning “mainland”.
History
Indigenous history The area that now forms the state of Alaska was first colonized about 12.000 years ago by Eskimo peoples such as the Yupik and Inuit and by various Native American tribes. They reached Alaska via the Bering Land Bridge, the Bering Strait which was dry or frozen over at the time. Most eventually moved further into North and South America. Alaska is named after the expression alaxsxaq. This expression comes from the language of the Aleutian Islands. It means the object upon which the action of the sea is directed.
Colony of Russia
The first Europeans to explore the area came from Russia. On August 20, 1741, the Danish-Russian explorer reached Vitus Bering During one of his expeditions, he sailed the Gulf of Alaska and sighted Mount Elias. He landed on Kayak Island, a small island off the coast, and sailed along the Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak Island. Partially following the Aleutian Islands, the ship sailed back to the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia and eventually landed on Bering Island. There, Bering ultimately died of scurvy during the winter. The Russians named the sea between Russia and the newly discovered Alaska after him, the Bering Strait.
Various Russian forts were established in Alaska. The colony was used by the Russians for hunting and fishing. At the same time, the Russians set up villages, churches, and schools for the indigenous population. The colony of Russian America was founded in 1799. Incidentally, the Russians also had forts in California and Hawaii, which also fell under Russian America. From 1850 onwards, fur revenues declined because there were fewer and fewer animals to hunt. The Russians were also afraid that the British would conquer Alaska from their colonies in Canada. Alaska would be extremely difficult for the Russians to defend. As a result, the Russians eventually decided to sell the territory.
Purchase by the United States
Even before this time, the Americans wanted to expand their empire to the north. According to the Americans, Canada, Greenland, and Russian America should become part of this empire. The United States would have the privilege of ruling over North America. This is called Manifest Destiny. At the initiative of Secretary of State William Seward, the United States purchased Alaska. April 9, 1867 from Russia. The price they paid for it, $7.200.000, was not high, because Russia thought the country was worthless. The formal transfer of sovereignty took place on October 18, a date that has since been celebrated as Alaska Day.
The Purchase of Alaska was not very popular in the US and was nicknamed Seward's Folly or Seward's Fridge. This was because the territory was thought to be worthless. Until 1884, the future state was called the Department of Alaska, and after that, until 1912, the District of Alaska. In 1912, it formally became a territory of the US, and 47 years later, on January 3, 1959, it was admitted to the Union as the 49th state. In the time since the purchase, it has become apparent how little was actually paid for the territory. Gold, coal, oil, and other natural resources currently being mined in Alaska have made the state prosperous. Russia sold Alaska to the US on March 30, 1867; the US received $7.200.072. It was called Seward's Folly. The Purchase of Alaska did not become very popular in the US. October 18 is Alaska Day. Until 1884, Alaska was called the Department of Alaska. After that, Alaska was called the District of Alaska. In 1912, the final name of Alaska became the United States.
Stateship
During World War II, several islands in the Aleutian Islands were occupied by Japanese troops as a diversion for the upcoming Battle of Midway. Attu, Agattu, and Kiska thus became the only part of the present-day United States occupied by hostile forces during the war. 3 Januari 1959 Alaska has been admitted to the Union as the 49th state.
On Good Friday in 1964, Alaska was struck by one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded. The quake, which had a magnitude of 9,2 on the Richter scale, claimed the lives of 131 people, mostly due to tsunamis caused by the quake. At the beginning of the 21st century, Alaska was still one of the least populated states in the US, with a population density of only 0,42 per km².
Landscape
Mount McKinley (Denali) is not only the highest mountain in Alaska, but also in all of North America. Denali is located in Alaska and, at 6194 meters, is the highest mountain in North America. The mountain is situated in the center of Denali National Park. The name Denali, which was used before 1917 and from 2015 to 2025, means “the High One” in Koyukon, an Athabaskan language spoken in the Yukon and originating from Alaska. The name Mount McKinley, which has been used from 1917 to 2015 and again since 2025 (by government agencies), is a reference to former US President William McKinley.
On August 31, 2015, it was announced that President Obama had decided that the mountain would officially regain its original pre-1917 name, Denali. President Donald Trump reversed this name change by executive order on January 20, 2025. This decision was openly criticized by both Republican senators for Alaska, Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan.
Alaska is by far the largest of the fifty states. It lies mostly in the Alaska Time Zone, while part of the Aleutian Islands lies in the Aleutian-Hawaiian Time Zone. Northern Alaska extends above the Arctic Circle. Alaska borders Canada only (to the east). Like Hawaii, Alaska does not border any of the other US states. The south of the state lies on the Pacific Ocean, the west on the Bering Sea, and the north on the Arctic Ocean. Alaska also has many islands, such as the Aleutian Islands, Kodiak Island, Saint Lawrence Island, and the islands of the Alexander Archipelago.
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Alaska is simultaneously the northernmost, westernmost, and easternmost state of the United States; some Aleutian Islands are located in the Eastern Hemisphere (unlike the rest of the US). A large part of the state is dominated by various mountain ranges. Mount McKinley, at 6194 meters, is the highest mountain in North America. The most important river is the Yukon, which flows from the Canadian Territory of the same name to the Bering Sea. Alaska has many protected natural areas, such as national parks and other protected ecosystems. Over 65% of Alaska is owned by the Federal government, mostly as nature reserves. The capital, Juneau, is the only state capital in the US that can only be reached by plane or ship. There are no roads leading from Juneau to the rest of the state or to Canada.
Climate
Alaska has various climates. The southern coastal regions have a temperate maritime climate. Here, winters are mild because the weather is often influenced by the sea. Further north, there is a continental climate. Here, winters are very cold. In the mountains and the north, there is a polar climate and a tundra climate. Here, temperatures are often below zero and there is perpetual snow. The state experiences regular precipitation. This means that snow and rain are evenly distributed throughout the year. However, there is slightly more rain in the summer than in the winter.
Population
Number and origin There are various “Native Alaskan” peoples, such as the Koyukon. Alaska has approximately 740.000 inhabitants. This makes Alaska the state with the fewest inhabitants after Vermont, Wyoming, and North Dakota. Because Alaska is enormous, the state is very sparsely populated. Most inhabitants—about two-thirds—live in the cities located in the south of the state. About 15% of the population consists of Native Americans. In the United States, they are often called Native Americans, but in Alaska, the name Native Alaskan is used. Of all the states, Alaska has the highest percentage of Native Americans. In the past, they were called “Eskimos,” but nowadays this name is considered offensive.
About 59% of the population consists of white Americans, 6% of Asian Americans, 3% of African Americans, and 1,7% of Pacific Americans. The rest of the population is of mixed ancestry. The largest immigrant groups come from the Philippines, Japan, China, and Mexico.
Language
Alaska has 21 official languages, making it the state with the most official languages. Until 2014, only English was official. About 83% of the population speaks English at home, and English is the most widely used language in the state. In addition, there are 20 other official languages. These languages are spoken by 5,2% of the population. These languages have been official since 2014 and are spoken by Native Alaskans. These 20 languages are Inupiaq, Siberian Yupik, Central Yupik, Alutiiq, Unangax, Dena'ina, Deg Xinag, Holikachuk, Koyukon, Upper Kuskokwim, Gwich'in, Tanana, Upper Tanana, Tanacross, Hän, Ahtna, Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian. Additionally, a number of Asian languages are spoken, including Tagalog and Russian. However, these languages are not official.
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