Even though Alaska has officially been an American state for more than 150 years, it has retained a unique charm reminiscent of 19th-century Russia. Traditional Russian saunas, called Banyas, are popular, homes are adorned with icons, and the samovar is a common sight. Temperatures are measured in Celsius, while the rest of the U.S. uses Fahrenheit, and Orthodox churches pepper the landscape. In this remote haven of untamed wilderness, the descendants of Russian colonists and indigenous communities coexist, safeguarding their faiths, cultures, and languages. Take a glimpse into the harmonious blend of Russian, Aleutian, and American influences shaping the local way of life.
Russian Alaska: Orthodoxy and Independence
