When the japs bombed pearl harbor, they may people think of a lot of things. Most people when they thought of alaska, they thought of a cold, rugged wasteland. Now suddenly, it seems to have considerable additional value. Both to us and the japanese. Its strategic position was not comforting. From alaska, the Aleutian Islands stretch out invitingly. The great Japanese Naval base is only 750 miles away. Japs in alaska would be a direct threat to america. Alaskas long and broken coastline was weakly defended. Our bases were few and far between. Our only means of supplying them was by sea or air. With no overland connection across the wilderness of northwestern canada, not even a trail. If our shipping lanes could be interrupted, alaska might fall. The situation called for immediate action. The canadian government had already carved out a series of five airports between edmonton in alberta and yukon territory. With canadas consent, the United States War Department decided to build a milit
When the japs bombed pearl harbor, they may people think of a lot of things. Most people when they thought of alaska, they thought of a cold, rugged wasteland. Now suddenly, it seems to have considerable additional value. Both to us and the japanese. Its strategic position was not comforting. From alaska, the Aleutian Islands stretch out invitingly. The great Japanese Naval base is only 750 miles away. Japs in alaska would be a direct threat to america. Alaskas long and broken coastline was weakly defended. Our bases were few and far between. Our only means of supplying them was by sea or air. With no overland connection across the wilderness of northwestern canada, not even a trail. If our shipping lanes could be interrupted, alaska might fall. The situation called for immediate action. The canadian government had already carved out a series of five airports between edmonton in alberta and yukon territory. With canadas consent, the United States War Department decided to build a milit
30, 1867, u. S. Secretary of state William Seward reached an agreement to purchase alaska from russia for 7. 2 million. Originally dubbed sewards folly, that was retracted when gold was discovered. Up next, alaska highway, a 1944 u. S. Army film documenting building highway from the lower 48 states to fairbanks through the canadian wilderness. The highway was gradually approved and opened to the public in 1948. [video clip] narrator when the japs bombed pearl harbor, they made people think of a lot of things. Most people when they thought of alaska, they thought of a cold, rugged wasteland. Now suddenly, it seems to have considerable value both to us and the japanese. Its strategic position was not comforting. From alaska, the Aleutian Islands stretch out invitingly. The great Japanese Naval base is only 750 miles away, and japs in alaska would be a direct threat to america. Alaskas long and broken coastline was weakly defended. Our bases were few and far between. Our only means of sup
Wide River Valleys and lists forests and deserted landscapes the alaska highway lives up to the legend even today. The wilderness starts at the roadside. The u. S. Army built the highway in World War Two and its still the only land connection between alaska and the other u. S. States. The magnificent nature around it has been preserved and it still feels as remote and lonely up here as it always has. In one thousand nine hundred forty two the small town of dawson creek in canada was made the starting point of the alaska highway. This is where the railroad ended and the us army wanted to create a link from there through Northern Canada to alaska to prepare for any attack by the japanese. The new wilderness road was to be completed within months and unbelievable fifteen hundred miles long about twenty four hundred kilometers in america its opening was celebrated in various propaganda films with canada and the United States War Department decided to build a military highway from rio grand
For my needs. River valleys and bliss forests and deserted landscapes the alaska highway lives up to the legend even today. The wilderness starts at the roadside. The u. S. Army built the highway in World War Two and its still the only land connection between alaska and the other u. S. States. The magnificent nature around it has been preserved and it still feels as remote and lonely up here as it always has. Been. In nine hundred forty two the small town of dawson creek in canada was made the starting point of the alaska highway. This is where the railroad ended and the u. S. Army wanted to create a link from there through Northern Canada to alaska to prepare for any attack by the japanese. The new wilderness road was to be completed within months and unbelievable fifteen hundred miles long about twenty four hundred kilometers in america its opening was celebrated in various propaganda films with canada and the United States War Department decided to build a military highway from rio