Aleutian Islands

The Aleutian Islands are an island chain that extends from western Alaska out into the Pacific Ocean. Mostly uninhabited, they have a notoriously harsh climate.

Historically they had value for fur hunting and were colonized by Russia in the 1700s, then sold to the United States.

Their strategic location played a role in World War II and several of the islands were occupied by Japan. They control that area of the north Pacific, and are close to Russia.