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Alaska has a land area of 663,268 sq mi (1,717,856 km2) with a population of 736,732 at a density of 1.26/sq mi (0.49/km2). And it's largest city, Anchorage has a population of 291,826 at a density of 171.2/sq mi (66.1/km2).
On the other side of the Bering sea are three Russian "states" when combined have similar stats as Alaska. These three "states" are Kamchatka Krai, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, and Magadan Oblast. Together they have a slightly smaller area of 645,300 sq mi (1,671,400 km2) with a combined population of 529,601. Its density ends up being about 0.82/sq mi (0.32/km2). The largest city of the three is Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky with a population of 179,780 and a much higher density of 1,280/sq mi (495/km2).
Not only do these two regions matchup almost perfectly in terms of area and population, and that happen to be in the north pacific, but they are also famous for many of the same things: massive mountains, volcanoes, vast forests, wilderness, unspoiled salmon runs, massive brown bears, they both are inhabited by inuit peoples who speak similar languages. They are also almost completely isolated from their respective home country.
So of these two regions do you think is better? You can use whatever terms you want to justify your answer.
"Better"? "Better" how, and for whom? By what criteria? More wild and unspoiled? The Russian side. With the possible exception of Magadan, due to all the gold mining. More developed? Less developed + more traditional?
Well "better" is always going to be an opinionated topic, and that is why I left it so vague. However, personally, I was thinking along the lines of natural beauty since both regions are famous for ecotourism. But in the end I think "better" comes down to a. Which one would you rather visit, and b. Which one would you rather live in.
I always like to "google map" far away remote places and get kind of a view on what life is like there
Like now i was looking at Adak island and what do you know, i see Dutch harbour lol, were we there? Couldn't imagine what it's like to live there..
Anyways, i think i'd choose the Alaskan side to live but that's only because i think i could relate more to the western culture and probably better quality of life (not even sure about that). Both sides seem incredibly beautiful and unspoiled, but also seem guarantee for a very harsh and risky life.
But that's just me, coming from a tiny, over populated, spoiled country.
For visiting i really don't have a favorite, i'd be happy to see both. I'm still hoping for a Bering Strait Tunnel so i can do both, some time, by car (4x4 that is then)
Come on Ruth don't be so picky, just take a side you know a lot about both right?
Last edited by cattledog69; 07-10-2015 at 03:17 AM..
actually the coastal regions of both places are not considerably colder than finland, though their summers are cooler. However, Sitka Alaska (old capital of Russian Alaska) probably has warmer winters than any place in finland, with an average low in January of 0.2C (32.3F) and average high of 4.7C (40.5F), But it doesn't get much warmer than 17C (62.6F),but its major downside is that it has monstrous amounts of rain.
Well what about Hyder Alaska? they don't give the climate states for it since it's such a tiny town, but it's right across the border from Stewart, B.C Canada. In July it's average high is 19.8C (67.6F) with a record high of 36.3C (97.3F) !! In January it's High is -0.5C (31.1F) and a low of -5.5C (22.1F) But again major amounts of rain and snow. But still I understand why someone wouldn't want to live in both places. But I wouldn't mind living there for a couple years, But I definitely couldn't live there permanently.
Beautiful pictures. I wouldn't have a problem with such summer temperatures. I like it cool. 30C would probably be unbearable in such a humid climate anyway.
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