Alaska ( , Аляска) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent. It is the largest U.S. state by area (by a substantial margin), and one of the wealthiest (per capita) and most racially diverse.
The area that became Alaska was purchased from the Russian Empire on March 30 1867. The land went through several administrative changes before becoming an organized territory on May 11, 1912 and the 49th state of the U.S. on January 3, 1959. The name "Alaska" is derived from the Aleut alaxsxaq, meaning "the mainland," or more literally, "the object towards which the action of the sea is directed." It is also known as Alyeska, the "great land", an Aleut word derived from the same root.
alaska! is an indie rock trio from the United States. The members of the band are Russell Pollard (formerly of Sebadoh and Folk Implosion), Imaad Wasif (formerly of Folk Implosion), and Lesley Ishino (formerly of the Red Aunts).
