Everything Alaska
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Alaska, this section is about the state of Alaska; it includes information about Alaska's history, links to state and government offices, online Alaskan newspapers, weather, Alaska's state symbols, stats and facts, trivia and more. The City Guide introduces you to our cities, the people within, local businesses, attractions, educational links, media, tides, news, weather and other links.
Alaska belonged to Russia from 1728 to 1867. After the fur-hunting did not yield any more, the area was considered worthless to the Russian Tsar. Since the US began to align its strategic interests with the Pacific, they bought AK for $ 7.2 million in 1867. The west-east or north-south extension from 1100 km to 1400 km results in an area of approximately 1.6 million km². The takeover involved 20,000-30,000 people in Alaska. Meanwhile, the population has increased to 614 000 and more.
Individual immigration waves were triggered by various natural resource discoveries. After lengthy public debate, Alaska was recognized as a US state in 1959, described by many journalists as icebox. The image of the "frozen wilderness and seclusion" and the selective exploitation of natural resources by adventurous people for a long time dominated the image of the Americans. The past decades, and above all the oil boom, have shown the significance of the rest of the raw material potential for US society. Services and new telecommunication reduce the "time distance" to the remaining 48 states, which allows a certain diversification of the economy. Alaska has become a supplier of raw materials and materials and, due to its special location, also a military-strategically important area. In individual boom-and-bust (stagnation) cycles, the valorization has taken place. The growing dependence on the US as a whole and the global economy is becoming increasingly clear to the state.
In the first decades after its purchase by the US, whaling and salmon fishing were expanded. Over 100 preservation factories were created. Reports of gold discoveries at various locations have triggered "gold rush waves." Thus, between 1880 and 1900, the population had grown from 3500 to 80 000 inhabitants. The boom years began in 1880, 1893, and 1896. As everywhere, miners began their search in the river sediments, the so-called "soap deposits," followed by the mining of gold-bearing rocks. Of interest were also silver finds and the mining of zinc and copper ores. With the Japanese everywhere on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and the occupation of a Aleutian island, Alaska gained strategic importance, which intensified during the Cold War years. The influx of soldiers increased the population in Alaska.
Attractions is an index to both man-made and natural attractions here in Alaska. Search through Alaska's Parks & Preserves, Wildlife Refuges, Museums & Libraries, Aurora Borealis, Volcanoes, Historical & Annual Events. This section includes links to attractions that are within Alaska, located outside of Alaskan cities.
Through whaling, salmon fishing and especially gold discoveries in the 1870s, the population of Alaska increased rapidly. The gold rush, which took place in Alaska at the end of the 19th century, drew the attention of the American government to isolated Alaska. As a result, was allowed in 1906 for the first time a non-voting Alaska delegate to enter the Congress. Soon after, the Congress approved a territorial government of Alaska and the country thus got its own parliament in 1912. Due to the strategically important situation of Alaska numerous military bases were built in Alaska during the Second World War. In addition, during this time, also the Alaskan Highway, a more than 2300 km long road that connected Alaska with the rest of the United States. After the war, Alaska experienced a large increase in population, as many soldiers stayed with their families in the country. Finally, Alaska was declared on January 3, 1959 the 49th US state. From the 1950s, the industry Alaska experienced a real upswing, as in several places large oil discoveries were discovered. Tourism also played a major role in Alaska's economy from this time on.