The history of Alaska is an amazing story. It is filled with larger than life people and stories. The first Alaskans came across the land bridge from Asia in the paleolithic era. These adventurous people managed to survive in the extremely harsh environment. They developed a lifestyle and culture that was well adapted to the area and many of their resources came from the sea.
The original inhabitants of the area came over the land bridge from Asia during the stone age. Some of the people continued south and settled in warmer regions. The ones that stayed learned to live in the harsh environment and became the first Alaskans. The population remained small until the Russians began to move into the areas as hunters and trappers.
It was not until 1867 that the United States government purchased the huge chunk of land from the Russians. At the time this was considered a mistake and the purchase price of $7,200,000 was widely criticized. Eventually the decision was justified with the discovery of oil and other rich mineral deposits.
The 1890's gold rush was a pivotal event in Alaskan history. When gold was discovered in the Yukon, thousands of people arrived in the region in the hopes of making their fortune. Boom towns sprang up over night and merchants became wealthy. The significant influx of people finally increased the population enough to be considered a territory. Still, Alaska did not generate much attention until the second world war. The Japanese over ran and occupied several of the Aleutian Islands and the inhabitants were removed to internment camps. People finally began to realise the strategic importance of the region.
Although the population was growing the region still lacked any major infrastructure. Finally in the early 1940's, the Alaska-Canada Military Highway was completed, providing the first road link between the two countries. This was a major development and made the area more accessible to workers and investors.
One of the biggest and most tragic events in the state history was the "Good Friday" earthquake. This huge quake, which measured in excess of 9 on the Richter scale, killed over one hundred people and destroyed many coastal properties. It also triggered a huge tsunami it created caused significant damage and is still remembered with fear and awe.
Alaskan's were happy to live in relative obscurity until quite recently. The discovery of large deposits of oil have changed the perception of the state and its place in the value of the nation. The oil boom has created significant wealth for virtually all Alaskans and the state government has taken measures to ensure that the benefits will continue for years to come.
In the past twenty years tourism has become one of the most important parts of the Alaskan economy. Over one million visitors each year enjoy the amazing sights and incredible wildlife. Breathtaking mountains offer excellent skiing in winter and hiking in summer. The wildlife is legendary and offers the chance to see grizzly bears, rare birds and a host of others in their natural habitat. The history of Alaska continues to evolve and this amazing state always seems to stay in the news.
The original inhabitants of the area came over the land bridge from Asia during the stone age. Some of the people continued south and settled in warmer regions. The ones that stayed learned to live in the harsh environment and became the first Alaskans. The population remained small until the Russians began to move into the areas as hunters and trappers.
It was not until 1867 that the United States government purchased the huge chunk of land from the Russians. At the time this was considered a mistake and the purchase price of $7,200,000 was widely criticized. Eventually the decision was justified with the discovery of oil and other rich mineral deposits.
The 1890's gold rush was a pivotal event in Alaskan history. When gold was discovered in the Yukon, thousands of people arrived in the region in the hopes of making their fortune. Boom towns sprang up over night and merchants became wealthy. The significant influx of people finally increased the population enough to be considered a territory. Still, Alaska did not generate much attention until the second world war. The Japanese over ran and occupied several of the Aleutian Islands and the inhabitants were removed to internment camps. People finally began to realise the strategic importance of the region.
Although the population was growing the region still lacked any major infrastructure. Finally in the early 1940's, the Alaska-Canada Military Highway was completed, providing the first road link between the two countries. This was a major development and made the area more accessible to workers and investors.
One of the biggest and most tragic events in the state history was the "Good Friday" earthquake. This huge quake, which measured in excess of 9 on the Richter scale, killed over one hundred people and destroyed many coastal properties. It also triggered a huge tsunami it created caused significant damage and is still remembered with fear and awe.
Alaskan's were happy to live in relative obscurity until quite recently. The discovery of large deposits of oil have changed the perception of the state and its place in the value of the nation. The oil boom has created significant wealth for virtually all Alaskans and the state government has taken measures to ensure that the benefits will continue for years to come.
In the past twenty years tourism has become one of the most important parts of the Alaskan economy. Over one million visitors each year enjoy the amazing sights and incredible wildlife. Breathtaking mountains offer excellent skiing in winter and hiking in summer. The wildlife is legendary and offers the chance to see grizzly bears, rare birds and a host of others in their natural habitat. The history of Alaska continues to evolve and this amazing state always seems to stay in the news.
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