书城外语课外英语-美国各洲小知识(一)(双语版)
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第6章 阿拉斯加州(1)

阿拉斯加州小档案:

人口:约640,000

面积:约1,518,800平方公里,排名第1位

州府:朱诺Juneau

辽阔的阿拉斯加州,它的名称,来自阿留申语(或爱斯基摩语),其意义是“大地方”Great Land。1728年,丹麦人维他斯·白令VitusBering为俄国人探险,先发现白令海峡。1741年发现阿留申群岛与阿拉斯加,成为俄国领土。1867年俄国把阿拉斯加卖给美国。

1801年开始殖民。1959年1月3日成为美国第49州。以“勿忘我”Forgetmenot为州花。本州别名叫做“大地”The Great Land,或“半夜出太阳的地方”Land of the Mi dnight Sun。本州箴言:“向北发展”North To The Future。

州府是朱诺Juneau,位于锅柄区。最大的都市安克拉奇Anchorage,位于本州南岸。费班克Fairbanks,位于本州中部。市区内有阿拉斯加大学,创于1917年。

本州特征有四:第一,它是美国面积最大之州;同时也是美国人口最少之州。第二,它是买价最低之州。1867年俄国把阿拉斯加卖给美国,售价720万美元,平均每20公顷土地1美元。第三,美国的北方耳目。本州在北美州西北角,隔北极海及白令海峡与欧亚大陆遥对。在本州内设有广泛的警报系统DEWline。第四,本州北斜坡石油储量甚富。待将来开采后,可以供应美国其他各州的需要。

本州主要特产:(A)石油。产于本州北极海岸(北斜坡)之普鲁德厚湾PrudhoeBay岸。储量约100亿桶,筑一条大输油管,由油田向南,直达瓦德兹港Oaldez,长达1,200公里(800里)。然后用油船运到美国西岸各练油厂。(B)木材。本州锅柄区伐木业极盛,年产木材超过15亿立方尺。(C)渔产。美国西岸俄勒冈、华盛顿及阿拉斯加三州都出产鲑鱼salmon。(D)作物。在锅柄地区出产马铃薯、蔬菜及牧草,用以饲养乳牛。(E)出产珍贵兽皮。

Introduction简介

Vitus Bering,a Dane working for the Russians,and Alexei Chirikov discovered the Alaskan mainland and the Aleutian Islands(阿留申群岛(环布于阿拉斯加半岛尖端的弧形岛屿))in 1741.Bering died from scurvy ([医]坏血病)later that winter on an island named after him,Bering Island.

Around this time the British,Spanish,and French were exploring the coast of Alaska.The unregulated exploitation of the fur resources by rival companies led to a depletion(损耗)of accessible(可到达的)fur areas and the killing and enslavement (奴役,强制)of the peaceful Aleut natives.Consequently,this led to the chartering of the Russian American Company in 1799.Under its first manager,Alexander Baranov,which was a period of about 20years,there was an order and systematic exploitation of the fur resources.

In 1804,the settlement of Sitka was attacked and held by the Tlingit Indians.The Russians use a combined navalmilitary operation to force the natives out.Later,in 1805,the Tlingit Indians killed all of the Russian residents that were living at present day Yakutat.The cost of administering the Alaska territory put a significant drain on the Russian homeland.This cost and the disappearance(不见,消失)of the sea otter(水獭)and fur trade brought about the Russians trying to interest the United States in purchasing Alaska in 1859.

The tremendous land mass of Alaska equal to onefifth of the continental U.S.was still unexplored in 1867.And with the Civil War,the purchase was not completed until March 30,1867,when the Treaty of Purchase was signed in Washington DC ,affirmed by the Senate senate(参议院)on April 9th,and signed by President Andrew Johnson on May 28th.The formal transfer of the Territory was made at Sitka on October 18,1867.The purchase price was 7,200,000.00.Shortly afterwards,despite a price of about two cents an acre,the purchase was widely ridiculed(嘲笑,奚落)as Rewards Folly.The first official census (1880)reported a total of 33,426Alaskans,all but 430being of aboriginal stock.

From 1867to 1898the US neglected the administration of the Territory.In 1896the discovery of gold in the Yukon Territory of Canada fired the imagination of the world.The Gold Rush of 1898resulted in a mass influx(流入)of more than 30,000people.This brought thousands of gold seekers through Alaska on their way to the gold fields.Another strike was found in Nome,several in the Interior of Alaska along the Yukon(育空)River.The last major discovery brought Fairbanks into being in 1902.With the vast influx of people into Alaska,Congress had to apply Civil Codes and establish laws in the Territory.In 1902the Alexander Archipelago Forest Reserve was created which became the Tongass National Forest in 1907.Since then,Alaska has contributed billions of dollarsworth of products to the US economy.

Alaska gained Territorial status with the United States Congress on August 24,1912.This gave Alaska a say in the laws that were being passed to administer the Territory.Expectations were not live up to with Territorial status as there was a period of economic and population decline.The Alaska Railroad was build between Seward and Fairbanks(费尔班克斯)between 1914and 1923.Copper was shipped from the Kennecott Copper Mine to Cordova between 1911and 1938.In 1935Federal subsidies were provided to farmers from the Midwest and Dust Bowl to settle the Matanuska(马塔努损卡河)ValleyColony.

World War II brought a short lived influx of military personnel (人员)and a boom in building within the State.With the end of the war there was a decline in military personnel (人员,职员)resulting in a short lived recession.The Cold War of the late 1940s brought about tremendous population and economic growth due to defense spending by the U.S.Government.

The most important result of all this activity was the movement for statehood.In 1949the Alaska Statehood Committee launched a campaign which brought about the Alaska Statehood Act which was signed by President Eisenhower on July 7,1958.On January 3,1959,Alaska was officially proclaimed the fortyninth state of the Union.From 1959to present,Alaska has had economic booms(繁荣)with timber (木材,木料),oil,sea foods,and the tourism industries.

Governor州长

Murkowski 州长在2002年11月5日被选举为阿拉斯加州长,12月2日正式当选为阿拉斯加第十任州长。为了履行他对年轻阿拉斯加的承诺,Murkowski州长致力于建设本州经济以便农村和城市的年轻的阿拉斯加人能找到好的工作。并且他还致力于开发阿拉斯加资源、石油、天然气、煤矿、木材和发展鱼业和旅游业,这些在太平洋市场都享有优先权。另外,他还减少州开支,采取几项有效措施来确保服务水平和环境保护。

Frank H.Murkowski was elected Governor on November 5and was sworn into office on December 2,2002,as Alaskas tenth governor.

Acting on his commitment to the youths of Alaska,Governor Murkowski has concentrated on building the economy of the state so that young Alaskans can find good job opportunities in both rural and urban Alaska.Concentrating on expanding Alaskas resources,oil,gas,minerals,fish,timber,and tourism in the markets of the Pacific Rim have been his priorities.Governor Murkowski has reduced state spending and initiated(开始,发动)several efficiencies in permitting and procedures without compromising service levels or environmental oversight(管理,监督).