ALASKA

ALASKA is an immense territory belonging to the U.S. by purchase from Russia in 1867. It is the largest state in the United States located in northwestern North America with coasts on the Arctic and North Pacific oceans and on the Bering Sea. It borders to the east with the Canadian territory of Yukon and the Canadian province of British Columbia, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia (specifically, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug and Kamchatka Krai) further west across the Bering Strait. Juneau is its capital city. It gained statehood on January 3, 1959.

It was considered poor in resources until 1968 when petroleum was discovered. A pipeline has been laid down to carry the oil from the North Slope to Valdez.

The inhabitants, who are chiefly Indians and Eskimos, live by traditional occupations such as hunting and fishing, and by the export of salmon; seal fishery valuable, however.