Page 721 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

INTRODUCING ALASK A  719

A brown bear fishing for salmon at Brooks Camp, Katmai National Park, Alaska Peninsula
populations of seals and sea otters. jobs, seafood processing, and tourism
Seen as a liability, Alaska was sold by are also important. Anchorage is
Russia in 1867 to the US Secretary of a major international hub for air cargo
State William Seward. The purchase was shipments. Over time, there has been a
popularly considered a waste of money growing awareness about preserving and
and dubbed “Seward’s Folly”; however, protecting Alaska’s unique wilderness
doubts vanished when the first of many from the commercial pressures arising
deposits of gold was found near Juneau. from the state’s natural wealth. The vast
More mineral discoveries, including gold majority of Alaska is owned by the
in 1898 at distant Nome, as well as vast government, and much of this is
quantities of copper, and oil at Prudhoe protected in national parks and other
Bay, have all proved the wisdom of undeveloped areas stretching from
Seward’s purchase. Glacier Bay to the Gates of the Arctic.
Alaska Today KEY DATES IN HISTORY
Alaska is home to 737,000 people. Of 13,000–30,000 years ago Migratory peoples cross
the population, 14 percent are of Native from present-day Siberia into Alaska
American descent, while the remainder 1741 Working for the Tsar of Russia, Danish explorer
come from diverse backgrounds (only 34 Vitus Bering and his crew are the first Europeans to
visit Alaska
percent of the total are born in the state). 1867 To ease an economic recession, the Tsar of
It has a population density of just one Russia sells Alaska to the US for $7.2 million
person per square mile (compared to over 1880 Gold is discovered near Juneau
1,000 in New Jersey). 1897 The Klondike Gold Rush hits Skagway
Alaska’s economy depends upon 1912 Alaska becomes a US Territory
oil from the North Slope, but government 1942 US Army builds the 1,442-mile (2,322-km) Alaska
Highway as an overland link
1959 Alaska becomes the 49th state
1964 Good Friday earthquake destroys much of
Anchorage and surrounding areas
1968 Oil discovered at Prudhoe Bay
1977 Trans-Alaska pipeline completed
1989 Exxon Valdez runs aground on Bligh Reef,
spilling 11 million gallons (50 million liters) of oil into
Prince William Sound
2000 onwards Global warming is causing dramatic
changes in Alaska, particularly in the Arctic. Climate
changes will have major impacts on the state’s
people, animals, and plants
Visitors at Aialik Glacier, one of the main attractions at Kenai Fjords
National Park

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