Although Alaska's "modern" history began around the 18th century, it has been home to Indians and wildlife for a much longer time. The first people to inhabit Alaska arrived around 15,000 years ago across the Bering Land Bridge, a portion of land which once connected Alaska to Asia, until the most recent ice age, after which sea levels rose and covered the area, isolating the Americas and Asia as two separate land masses.
The Indians and Eskimos peacefully inhabited the Alaskan and Canadian areas, until 1728 when a Danish explorer, Vitus Bering, discovered the Being Straight between the new continents. In 1741, he then led a Russian expedition with George Seller and landed in the area of Kayak Island. Bering and his explorers explored the west coast of Alaska, before becoming shipwrecked and disappearing in Commodorsky Island (later renamed Bering Island).
In 1776, a British explorer named James Cook set sail on an expedition to find the Northwest Passage, a proposed sea route along the north coast of Canada, which would serve as a trading route across North America, as well as potentially between Europe and Asia. Two years later, Cook sailed up the northwest coast, and discovered what is now known as the Cook Inlet, before continuing up the Bering Strait and entering the Arctic Ocean, at which point he was forced to turn back due to ice barring his passage. A sailor, John Ledyard, established the first contact with the Russians after he travelled to inland Alaska with Native Alaskans he had met.
In 1784, Russians settled in Alaska on Kodiak Island. Alaska remained Russian territory until 1867, when the USA bought the land from the Russians for $7.2 million in gold, equalling approximately two cents per acre.
Almost 100 years later, gold was discovered in various parts on Alaska. It wasn't until 1884 that the US Congress provided for an Alaskan government, and four years later over 60,000 Americans migrated to Alaska for the abundant riches of gold. Later, in the final years of the 19th century, over 100,000 more prospectors travelled north in what was known as the Klondike Gold Rush.
After being renamed a territory in 1912, the Aleutian islands of Attu and Kiska were invaded by the Japanese in 1942, prompting the introduction of a large military presence as well as the construction f the Alaska-Canada Highway. A year later, the American military drove the Japanese out of the Aleutian Islands, and took them back for the USA.
In 1959, after petitioning from Alaskans, President Eisenhower signed an official declaration, naming Alaska the 49th state of the USA.
Today, Alaska is made up of 5 regions: the Far North, the Interior, the Southwest, the Southcentral and the Inside Passage.
The Far North
This is Alaska's coldest region, home to the Inupiat Eskimos. As shown on the map above, communities in the Far North are few and far between, nestled in such extreme conditions that these places are mostly only accessible via air.
Temperature range: -30c to 7c
Sunlight range: 4 to 24 hours
The Interior
This area is home to the tallest peak in North America, Mount McKinley, and the Athabacan Indians. When the area was first settled by Russians and Americans, they discovered abundant riches such as gold, farm land and animal fur. The area is best known for its wildlife, and is home to the state bird, the Willow Ptarmigan.
Temperature range: -27c to 22c
Sunlight range: 5 to 20 hours
The Southwest
A warmer environment than the Far North, the Southwest is known for its range of volcanoes, preserved in the Katmai National Park, and an outreaching arm of islands, known as the Aleutian Islands, which reach over 1000 miles towards Asia.
Temperature range: -18c to 17c
Sunlight range: 5 to 18 hours
The Southcentral
This area is the most populous region of Alaska, with over half its inhabitants residing there. It is also a popular travel destination for tourists, home to various hiking and fishing destinations, linked by air and road to mainland Canada while maintaining the factor of isolation and wilderness.
Temperature range: -13c to 18c
Sunlight range: 6 to 18 hours
The Inside Passage
The Inside Passage is the southernmost region of Alaska. It is home to Tsimshian, Tlingit and Haida Indians. It was shaped by massive glaciers millions of years ago, and is a common tourist destination for cruises among the shoreline and amongst the various islands.
Temperature range: -7c to 18c
Sunlight range: 4 to 18 hours
Population
Alaska is the least densely populated state in the USA, with 1.2 inhabitants per square mile. Although it is the 47th most populated state, it is physically the largest state in the country - in comparison to mainland USA, the westernmost Aleutian island touches the west coast, while the easternmost area of the Inside Passage touches the east coast.
While less than 1% of the population of the USA is Native American, 14.8% of the population of Alaska is Native American or Native Alaskan. There are very few roads and highways in Alaska, meaning prices in Alaska are high, since importing goods is difficult. The capital city, Juneau, is accessible only by ferry. Most cities and towns in Alaska are accessible only by sea or air, meaning many Alaskans are isolated from the rest of the state, let alone the country and the world.
Although Alaska has universities and colleges available to its populous, many young people, due to the restlessness they feel from growing up in such isolated areas, leave the state to attend university.
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