Exactly 150 years ago, on March 30, 1867, the Americans payed 7.2 million dollars to buy Alaska from Russia. This was the best deal ever for the USA, because nowadays Alaska is one of the richest states of the USA.
Alaska was a Russion colony for about 125 years. In 1741 Vitus Bering crossed the sea channel that is now bearing his name and ‘Russkaja Amerika’ was founded, stretching all the way to current California. About 800 Russians inhabited the area with all it’s natural riches.
In the 19th century the Russians were short on money due to their warfare and they decided to sell the remote (far from St. Petersburg) area. The Americans didn’t really know what to do with the area, but because they feared that the English would settle there, they bought Alaska from Russia. Alaska became a part of the USA and in 1959 Alaska officially became the 49th state of the USA.
Looking back now, buying Alaska was the best deal ever for the USA. Gold, fish, timber and oil have raised 100’s of billions of dollars. Alaska is also the gateway to the North Pole for the USA and is of great strategic importance.
