Alaska
Overview
Alaska is the largest U.S. state by area, located in the northwestern corner of the United States. It was purchased from the Russian Empire in 1867 and became the 49th U.S. state on January 3, 1959. With a total area of about 1,717,856 km², it accounts for about 20% of the total U.S. territory, and with a population of about 730,000, it is the least densely populated state in the U.S. Oil, natural gas, fisheries, and tourism are the core pillars of its economy, and the cultures of Alaska Natives such as the Aleut, Inuit, and Athabaskan, along with the legacy of the Russian colonial period, remain together.
Main Content
Geography and Natural Environment
Alaska spans from 51° to 71° north latitude and 130° to 173° west longitude, and borders the Beaufort Sea to the north, the Bering Sea to the west, and the Gulf of Alaska to the south. In the Alaska Range along the southern coast lies Denali (6,190 m above sea level), the highest peak in North America, and the Aleutian Islands and Alaska Peninsula in the southeast are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, where earthquakes and volcanic activity are active. The interior has an extreme continental climate, with winter temperatures dropping to -50°C, while the southeastern coast has a mild, humid oceanic climate with annual precipitation sometimes exceeding 3,000 mm. Much of the land is covered by permafrost, making it particularly vulnerable to climate change.
History
Alaska has been inhabited by Indigenous peoples for at least 10,000 years. After Vitus Bering explored it in 1741, Russia established fur trading posts. In 1867, the United States purchased Russian America for $7.2 million, which was mocked at the time as "Seward's Folly," but later the discovery of gold and oil reversed its reputation. The Klondike Gold Rush of 1896–1899 caused a population surge, and after becoming the Alaska Territory in 1912, it was elevated to a full state in 1959. In 1971, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) returned about 180,000 km² of land and compensation to Alaska Natives.
Economy and Industry
The Prudhoe Bay oil field and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline are central to the state's finances, with oil production taxes and royalties accounting for a significant portion of the state budget. Fisheries such as salmon, cod, and crab are a main industry, accounting for more than half of the total U.S. catch, and cruise tourism, nature tourism, and air cargo transportation based in Anchorage are also important. The Alaska Permanent Fund, established in 1982, is famous for its unique system of accumulating oil revenues and paying annual dividends to residents.
Population and Culture
Of the population of about 730,000, Alaska Natives make up about 15%, and Anchorage is the largest city, home to more than 40% of the total population. The state's official languages are English and about 20 Native languages, and the traditions of the Inuit, Yupik, and Aleut are mixed with Russian Orthodox culture. Representative cultural events include the Iditarod dog sled race, the Alaska State Fair, and winter aurora tourism.
Politics and Administration
It is the only U.S. state where the entire state forms a single federal congressional district, sending two senators and one representative. Since the 1970s, debates over oil development and land use have been the central axis of politics, and recently climate change response and federal land regulation have emerged as major issues.
Recent Trends
In 2024–2025, Alaska is drawing attention as a frontline of climate change. Cracks and subsidence in infrastructure such as roads, buildings, and pipelines are being reported one after another due to permafrost thaw, and competition over Arctic shipping routes and resource development is intensifying as Arctic sea ice decreases. The conflict between environmental groups and the oil industry over the Willow oil field development continues to be discussed amid changes in federal energy policy, and the Alaska LNG project and rare earth and critical mineral exploration are emerging as new growth drivers. In aviation, expansion of direct routes connecting Anchorage and major Asian cities is being pursued. The tourism industry has recorded its biggest boom since the pandemic, but concerns are also growing over damage to the natural environment and infringement on the living foundations of Indigenous communities due to the surge in visitors.
Related Topics
- [[United States]]
- [[Russia]]
- [[Arctic]]
- [[Climate change]]
- [[Oil]]
- [[Iditarod]]
- [[Indigenous peoples]]