Aleutian Islands
(Redirected from Aleutian chain)
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.