Alaska (The Fires of God)

Alaska is a country situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent. Bordering Alaska to the east is Canada; to the north is the Arctic Ocean; and to the west and south is the Pacific Ocean, with Russia (specifically, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug and Kamchatka Krai) farther west across the Bering Strait. Approximately half of Alaska's 735,732 residents live within the Anchorage metropolitan area. Alaska's economy is dominated by the oil, natural gas, and fishing industries, resources which it has in abundance. Tourism is also a significant part of the economy.

Although it had been occupied for thousands of years by indigenous peoples, from the 18th century until 1989, the Russian Empire occupied Alaska. Following the reorganization of the Russian Empire following the abolition of the monarchy in 1918, the territory was officially known as the Nationalist Republic of Alaska. In 1989 Alaska became the first Nationalist Republic to secure independence from Russia. However, the long period of Russian rule has given rise to a large Russian-speaking community in Alaska, many of whom are also adherents of Russian Orthodox Christianity. Alaska is a member of both NATO and the UN.