Alyeska
| Alyeska | |
|---|---|
| Republic of Alyeska | |
| Alyeska | |
 | |
 Location of Alyeska | |
| Capital | Novo-Arhangelsk |
| Largest City | Savva |
| Population | 1,818,223 |
| Government Type | Republic |
| Languages |
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| Currency | Alyeskan Ruble (AKR) |
Alyeska Russian: Аля́ска; Aleut: Alax̂sxax̂; Yup'ik: Alaskaq; Tlingit: Anáaski; Japanese: アラスカ; officially the Republic of Alyeska is the northwesternmost nation on the North-American continent. Alyeska borders Tussenland to the east and south, the North Pacific Ocean to the west and Russia across the Bering Strait. To the north is Chukchi and Nuvuk seas of the Arctic Ocean.
Alyeska is the least populous sovereign nation of continental North America with a population of only 1.8 million people spread over an area of more than 1.7 million square kilometers, making Alyeska one of the least dense nations in America and in the world.
Various indigenous peoples occupied Alyeska for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans. The area of what is now the nation of Alyeska is considered the entry point for the settlement of North America by way of the Bering land bridge. Russians were the first Europeans to reach Alyeska in the mid-17th century, and the history of Alyeska has been shaped by subsequent Russian colonization since. Before the 1860s, Alyeska was a backwater of the Russian empire with sparse colonization mainly driven by missionary work and the prestige gained by owning an American colony. Starting in the late 19th century, after the Russian pacific naval build-up and the building of the Trans-Siberian railway, settlement increased in Alyeska with the Russian Empire using Novo-Arhangelsk & Kodiak as ports to trade with the Americas and the South Pacific. Settlement of the colony massively increased during the Alyeskan gold rush of the late 1890s, with thousands of Russian, Japanese, Korean & English prospectors flooding into the region.
History
The history of Alyeska spans thousands of years, beginning with the presence of indigenous peoples who developed distinct societies across the region. European exploration, notably by the Russians in the 18th and 19th centuries, laid the foundation for subsequent colonization efforts.
Private Russian trade companies, including the successful Kurile Island Company, dominated early colonization efforts. The Russian Pacific Company, a state-sponsored entity, emerged in 1865, bringing renewed interest and development to Alyeska. The 1890s Gold Rush also attracted immigrants, which eventually led to reforms by the Russian Pacific Company to improve governance.
The 20th century saw Alyeska's relationship with mainland Russia evolving. After de facto independence following the fall of the Russian Republic after the Russian Civil War, Alyeska became a special territory under the Treaty of Novo-Arkhangelsk in 1930. This arangement of self-autonomy was short-lived however, as the Autonomous National Republic of Alyeska was established in 1940, leading to protests against perceived mainland interference.
Growing resentment eventually led to the Alyeskan Independence War in 1978, which resulted in the nation's independence. Following its independence, Alyeska was under a military junta from 1979-1985, until a democratic constitution was adopted, leading to the formation of the Republic.
List of leaders
- Nikolaj Tryndin (Military junta, 1979-1985)
- Konstantin Alkhimov (First president, 1985-198x)
