Alaska on the natural resources map. Mineral resources of Alaska

ALASKA: RESOURCES AND ECONOMY

The only Arctic state of the United States, Alaska, provided in the near 1980s. a quarter of the oil consumption of the whole country with its production, is now experiencing no better times. AT last decade the volume of oil production in the Pradhoe Bay on the North Slope of Alaska and its pumping through the world's only trans-polar trans-Alaskan pipeline system TARE (main oil pipeline) to the ice-free port of Valdez on the south coast of Alaska has been steadily declining from maximum value 0.318 million m3/day by 5% annually to 0.0954 million m3/day in 2011

Against the backdrop of a stable increase in world oil prices in recent years, the decline in oil production in Alaska did not have a very noticeable effect on the state's revenues. Moreover, the stable and highly profitable export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) produced in the Cook Bay from the so far only liquefaction plant in the Arctic on the Kenai Peninsula to the countries of the Asia-Pacific Region (APR) and West Coast the USA itself.

But in the last three crisis years, the decline in oil production has increasingly threatened the material well-being of Alaskans, forcing the state administration to take active steps to stabilize and increase oil production.

Proposal in the early 1970s to build TARE met with fierce resistance from environmental groups in the United States and, after lengthy disputes, was approved only in 1973 by a special decision of the US Congress.

Opponents pointed to the many negative effects of the construction, including the disappearance of wild herds of caribou. But in fact, this stock of deer has flourished over the past 35 years, the number of caribou in the central part of Arctic Alaska, occupying summer pastures in the vicinity of the bay

Pradhoe has grown from 5,000 head in 1975 to over 70,000 head today. This growth is one of many examples of environmentally successful solutions associated with the construction and operation of the oil pipeline operated by Eliaska Pipeline Service. According to a company representative, two of its biggest achievements are the safe transfer of 2.7 billion m3 of oil and the confirmation of the fairness of the environmental protection measures included in the pipeline project. A notable feature of the pipeline infrastructure was its ability to withstand major earthquake in 2002 and numerous natural fires in the tundra. Moreover, the company is making the pipeline safer and even more efficient. Last year, the company received an award from the US Association of Environmental and Reservoir Geologists for excellence in oil pipeline engineering and operation (characteristics key indicators the state of Alaska are given in Table. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5).

After the oil boom in Alaska in the 1990s. to date, production has more than tripled. However, efforts to regain former strength are hampered by Alaska's onshore oil taxes, the highest in North America, which many oil companies consider to be the largest | an obstacle to new investment and oil production. °

The restoration of the former image of Alaska is promoted by the decision of the Shell company to start exploratory drilling for oil and gas in the Arctic waters of the shelf of the northern coast of Alaska. | Shell had already invested in this work prior to drilling the first well “

Table 1 Some economic

and administrative indicators of the state of Alaska

State creation time

Largest city Time of creation of the Alaska Native Association Population as of 07/01/2011 (persons) total area(km2) Land area (km2) Underwater area (km2)

Length of coastline (km) Gross annual product in 2010 (billion dollars) Per capita (dollars)

Economic growth rate, %/year Inflation rate, %/year

Alaska Permanent Fund ($B) State Credit Rating

Main Industries

Juney Anchorage

Land ownership

Natural resources

Export in 2011

Export

products

Imports (including US imports) Imported products

722 718 1 717 853 1 481346

3 A (triple A) Oil, Gas, Mining, Fisheries, Forestry, Tourism, U.S. Government Services, Military, Food 60% federal, 28% state, 11% indigenous, 1%

in private ownership

Oil, gas, coal, precious and common metals, timber, water resources$5.2 billion Seafood, petroleum products and oil, base and precious metals, timber

$18.26 billion Capital equipment, oil products, food products

Table 2 Estimates of Undiscovered Technically Recoverable Oil and Gas Resources in Alaska

Region Amount of resources

oil, billion m3 gas, trillion m3

arctic

coast 2.53 2.82

Arctic shelf 3.78 3.06

Domestic oil

Callous basins 0.037 0.16

Northern part of the bay

wa Kuka 0.09 0.54

Other territories

southern Alaska 0.46 0.67

Total (excluding oil

tenosny and gas-bearing

shale, hydraulic

natural gas

and coal methane) 6.73 7.25

Unlike many other areas of development for large-scale oil production, Alaska has predictable tax and political regimes. The desire for a more positive investment climate has already led to a breakthrough in a potential new liquefied natural gas project, building on its huge reserves at Thompson Point and the legacy of oil fields on the North Slope. Signs of an impending energy boom in Alaska are already subtle in the state's traditional oil hotspots in Cook Inlet and the Arctic North Slope. Over the past two years new wave companies rushed to Cook Inlet, which was reflected in the level of competition in the last annual auction of oil and gas licenses. On the North Slope, oil and gas explorers are rushing to secure onshore and offshore positions in Prudhoe Bay, North America's largest oil field, which has already produced more than 2.7 billion m3 of oil, just as it was at first.

The US Department of Geology, together with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, assessed on the North Slope and shelf

Table 3

Exploration and production of hydrocarbons in Alaska

Number of exploratory wells drilled in 2012 incl. 500 Oil production in 2011, million m3, 33.2 incl. on the North Slope, 88.3 million m3/day in Cook Inlet 1.6 Share of the state in total US oil production, % 11.0

Table 4

Characteristics of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System

The total volume of oil pumped,

bcm 2.59

Duration of construction

stva, months 38

Length, km 1287

Outer diameter, mm 1220

The northern coast has 6.36 billion m3 of technically recoverable oil and 5.86 trillion m3 of natural gas, excluding gas reserves in oil shale and other unconventional sources such as viscous oil, heavy oil and gas hydrates.

The decline in oil pumping through the Trans-Alaskan oil pipeline is a sign of the state of the Alaskan economy. Because Alaska has no sales or property tax revenue, the state government relies almost exclusively on taxes from the oil and gas industry. In 2011, oil taxes generated $7 billion for the state, or 92% of the state's budget.

High world oil prices recent years saved the state's finances from the consequences of a systematic decline in oil production by 5% annually. But in the absence of prospects for a reversal of this trend in the short and medium

in the non-urgent outlook, the state's public finance position has become alarm bell for state administration.

The decline in oil through the pipeline has also created technical and potentially environmental challenges for the owner, Elieska Pipeline Service. As a result, the state administration in March 2011 announced a goal to restore the volume of oil pumped through the pipeline over the next 10 years to 0.159 billion m3/year, that is, to about half of the previously reached maximum. The state governor said that achieving this goal will require the participation of a wide range shareholders, but the government can play a leading role by establishing more favorable tax and legislative regimes. Mitigation tax regime still remains a top priority despite opposition from the US Senate. The people of the state have become much more educated and see the connection between taxation and state revenue.

Increasing taxes means less production and less revenue for the state, less money for schools and everything else.

The administration of Alaska is betting on the development of the vast resources of the state for the benefit of its inhabitants. She understand:

Table 5

Some indicators of Alaska Native corporations

Name- Location- Number of ak- Number of income,

tsioner workers billion

(Eskimo-

Iñupiat)

Fairbanks Anchorage

to achieve this, we need to become more competitive.

The State Governor is actively urging US leaders to follow the State's trend of creating the best investment climate for energy companies in Alaska's federal lands, which include the US Arctic Reserve and the US Arctic Oil Reserve, and federal waters Outer Continental Shelf.

The US administration has created an interdepartmental working group of federal agencies in charge of onshore and offshore permits to facilitate the drilling of Shell, Statoil and other companies on the Arctic shelf of Alaska.

By the way, it is worth noting that despite the commitment to strict compliance with environmental requirements and energy conservation, the flares of associated gas from oil and gas production on offshore production platforms in Cook Inlet continue to blaze regularly.

As well as tax reforms the state is investing heavily in

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How much was Alaska sold for?

The agreement on the sale of "Russian America", or Alaska, was postponed several times. The deal was initially delayed due to civil war in the United States, then the authorities of the countries waited for the expiration of the RAC benefits. Nevertheless, negotiations took place, during which the exact cost of the peninsula was established - $ 7.2 million.

On the question of who sold Alaska, it was not in vain that they did not find answers for a long time. The deal was classified as "secret", and only the emperor and five of his close ministers knew about the signing of the papers. The transfer of the peninsula to the United States was announced only 2 months after the agreement.

In some Russian newspapers, this event was placed on the last pages, and no one attached much importance to it. Moreover, due to their ignorance and illiteracy, many people did not even know that there were distant northern regions belonging to the Russian Empire.

The amount that the Americans paid for the peninsula was very significant in those days. But, based on the vast area of Alaska, one square kilometer her land was only worth about $5. So it was a very good deal for America.

In October 1967, Alaska was in official order transferred to the USA. Russia was represented by the government commissioner A. Peshchurov. Immediately on that day, the peninsula entered into force Gregorian calendar. If on that day in the evening it was October 5, then in the morning the inhabitants woke up on October 18!

Myth or truth?

Since the history of the transfer of Alaska to the United States was shrouded in secrecy, there are still disputes and investigations about this. Some say the Americans have been given this land on lease and are illegally using it. There are suggestions that the peninsula was sold by Catherine II. What really happened, and who sold Alaska?

"Russian America" was sold by Emperor Alexander II during his reign. Catherine could not do this, as she died in 1796.

Alaska was sold, not leased. This is evidenced by the agreement with the exact amount and signed by both parties. The only disagreement so far is the topic of money.

One of the clauses of the contract stated that America would pay Russia $7.2 million in gold coins. However, it later turned out that Russia received a check from the United States with the amount written on it. Where this check went, and who cashed it, is still unknown.

Why was Alaska sold to America?

Of course, when selling Alaska, Russia pursued its own goals. There were several reasons to get rid of this harsh peninsula:

The only profit that Alaska brought to Russia in those years was furs. The flow of hunters increased over time, and uncontrolled poaching destroyed most of the state's planned income. A sharp drop in the production of valuable furs led to the fact that Alaska was recognized as a loss-making region. The peninsula immediately lost its original commercial significance, and its territories completely ceased to be developed.
The costs of maintaining, exploring, extracting resources and protecting Alaska significantly exceeded the pennies that Russia received from her. In addition, the remoteness of the peninsula, the harsh climate and unacceptable living conditions played a decisive role in the question of its importance for the country.
fighting that took place in those years in the Far East showed the complete insecurity of Alaska from invasion and capture. The government of the Russian Empire thought that in the event of an attack on Alaska, its lands would have to be given away for free. Therefore, it was more expedient to sell the peninsula and replenish the state treasury.
Negotiations for the sale of Alaska took place just at the time of an unfavorable confluence of certain circumstances. Another state, Great Britain, made claims to its territory. Therefore, it was beneficial for the Russian Empire to sell Alaska and in this way get rid of the brewing conflict.

Alaska is an amazing, cold, proud land, rich, and completely unknown. Only here there are 3 million cleanest lakes, 100 thousand glaciers, 70 dangerous volcanoes. Every year, about 5 thousand earthquakes occur in these parts, some of which reach a strength of 3.5 points.

The capital of Alaska can only be reached by plane or ferry. It is unrealistic to make a trip by car, since the climate of the region is a constant riot of snow blizzards, storms, avalanches and icy wind currents.
Alaska supplies 1/5 of all the oil needed by the US. A rich deposit was found in 1968 in the village of Prudhoe Bay, from which the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline was laid.
The presence of the oil pipeline in the virgin nature of the peninsula causes a storm of emotions among environmentalists. The most publicized case occurred in 2001. D. Lewis, being tipsy, fired at the oil pipeline, which contributed to the illegal spill of oil in the amount of 6 thousand barrels. For this, he received 16 years in prison and a huge fine - $ 17 million.
Every animal in Alaska is the property of the state. If the animal died under the wheels of the car, the driver must immediately report this to the special services. The carcass of a downed large animal (moose or deer) is butchered, and the meat is given to poor families. This helps the needy inhabitants of the northern lands survive the harsh winter months.
Alaska has a peculiar cycle of days and nights. In summer the sun does not set at all, and in winter there is a period of endless darkness. Due to the lack of solar heat and light, its inhabitants suffer from depression. However, there are also advantages: thanks to the constant summer sun some vegetables, such as cabbage, pumpkin, can reach incredible sizes.
Fantastic reserves of gold have been found on the peninsula. In total, about 1,000 tons of gold were mined in Alaska, and huge reserves of silver and copper were also discovered.

The right decision or a rash act?

When the whole world thundered about the colossal deposits of valuable metals, gas and oil on the peninsula, many began to ridicule the short-sighted Russian emperor, arguing how it was possible to sell Alaska - a gold mine. However, if you look at the situation from the position not of today, but of the times of 1867, much becomes clear.

At that time, the Russian Empire was mired in debt, intrigue, and waged war. Palo serfdom, from the treasury began to pay compensation to the nobles, who could not cover their material losses. Yes, and the Crimean War took a decent share of the state's funds.

During this difficult time, the Empire simply did not have the means and opportunities for development and exploration of Alaska. Certainly, in time it could be done. But who knows, maybe if they had not sold Alaska then, they would simply have lost it, ceding it to some invasive country.

Every year, on October 18, a solemn holiday is held in Alaska. Cannons are fired in a cheerful spirit of costumed performances, the flag of America is raised. Loud thanks go to Russia for enabling the United States to make one of its most successful deals, the acquisition of rich land, once called "Russian America".

On January 3, 1959, Alaska became the 49th state of the United States, although these lands were sold by Russia to America back in 1867. However, there is a version that Alaska was never sold. Russia leased it for 90 years, and after the expiration of the lease, in 1957, Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev actually donated these lands to the United States. Many historians argue that the agreement on the transfer of Alaska to the United States was not signed by either the Russian Empire or the USSR, and the peninsula was borrowed from Russia free of charge. Be that as it may, Alaska is still shrouded in a halo of secrets.

Russians taught the natives of Alaska to turnips and potatoes

Under the rule of the “quietest” Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov in Russia, Semyon Dezhnev swam across the 86-kilometer strait that separated Russia and America. Later, this strait was named Bering Strait in honor of Vitus Bering, who in 1741 explored the shores of Alaska. Although before him, in 1732, Mikhail Gvozdev was the first European to determine the coordinates and map the 300-kilometer coastline of this peninsula. In 1784, Grigory Shelikhov was engaged in the development of Alaska, who taught the local population to turnips and potatoes, spread Orthodoxy among the horse natives, and even founded the Slava Rossii agricultural colony. Since that time, the inhabitants of Alaska have become Russian subjects.

The British and Americans armed the natives against the Russians In 1798, as a result of the merger of Grigory Shelikhov, Nikolai Mylnikov and Ivan Golikov, the Russian-American Company was formed, whose shareholders were statesmen and great princes. The first director of this company is Nikolai Rezanov, whose name is known to many today as the name of the hero of the musical "Juno and Avos". The company, which some historians today call "the destroyer of Russian America and an obstacle to the development Far East”, there were monopoly rights to furs, trade, the discovery of new lands, granted Emperor Paul I. The company also had the right to protect and represent the interests of Russia

The company founded the Mikhailovsky Fortress (today Sitka), where the Russians built a church, a primary school, a shipyard, workshops and an arsenal. Each ship that came to the harbor where the fortress stood was greeted with fireworks. In 1802, the fortress was burned by the natives, and three years later, another Russian fortress suffered the same fate. American and British entrepreneurs sought to eliminate the Russian settlements and armed the natives for this.

Alaska could become a cause of war for Russia

For Russia, Alaska was a real gold mine. For example, sea otter fur was more expensive than gold, but the greed and short-sightedness of the miners led to the fact that already in the 1840s there were practically no valuable animals left on the peninsula. In addition, oil and gold were discovered in Alaska. It is this fact, however absurd it may sound, that has become one of the incentives to get rid of Alaska as soon as possible. The fact is that American prospectors began to actively arrive in Alaska, and the Russian government reasonably feared that they would come after them. American troops. Russia was not ready for the war, and it was completely imprudent to give Alaska penniless.

At the ceremony for the transfer of Alaska, the flag fell on Russian bayonets

October 18, 1867 at 3:30 p.m. the solemn ceremony of changing the flag on the flagpole in front of the house of the ruler of Alaska began. Two non-commissioned officers began to lower the flag of the Russian-American company, but it got tangled in the ropes at the very top, and the painter completely broke off. Several sailors, on orders, rushed to climb up to unravel the tattered flag hanging on the mast. The sailor who reached the flag first did not have time to shout to get down with the flag, and not throw it, and he threw the flag down. The flag hit right on the Russian bayonets. Mystics and conspiracy theorists should have rejoiced.

Immediately after the transfer of Alaska to the United States, American troops entered Sitka and looted the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael, private houses and shops, and General Jefferson Davis ordered all Russians to leave their homes to the Americans.

Alaska has become an extremely profitable deal for the United States. The Russian Empire sold uninhabited and hard-to-reach territory to the United States for $0.05 per hectare. It turned out to be 1.5 times cheaper than Napoleonic France had sold the developed territory of historical Louisiana 50 years earlier. America offered only $10 million for the port of New Orleans, and besides, the lands of Louisiana had to be redeemed again from the Indians living there.

Another fact: at the time when Russia sold Alaska to America, the state treasury paid more for a single three-story building in downtown New York than the US government paid for the entire peninsula.

The main secret of the sale of Alaska - where is the money? Eduard Stekl, who since 1850 was a chargé d'affaires Russian embassy in Washington, and in 1854 he was appointed to the post of envoy, received a check in the amount of 7 million 35 thousand dollars. He kept 21,000 for himself and distributed 144,000 to the senators who voted for the ratification of the treaty as bribes. 7 million was transferred to London by bank transfer, and already from the British capital to St. Petersburg the gold bars purchased for this amount were transported by sea.

When converting the currency, first into pounds, and then into gold, they lost another 1.5 million. But this loss was not the last. On July 16, 1868, the Orkney bark, carrying precious cargo, sank on the way to St. Petersburg. Whether there was Russian gold on it at that moment, or whether it did not leave the limits of Foggy Albion, remains unknown today. The company that registered the cargo declared itself bankrupt, so the damage was only partially reimbursed.

In 2013, the Russian filed a lawsuit to invalidate the agreement on the sale of Alaska. In March 2013, the Moscow Arbitration Court received a claim from representatives of the Interregional social movement in support of Orthodox educational and social initiatives "Bees" in the name of the Holy Great Martyr Nikita. According to Nikolai Bondarenko, chairman of the movement, such a step was caused by the failure to fulfill a number of clauses of the agreement signed in 1867. In particular, Article 6 provided for the payment of 7 million 200 thousand dollars in gold coins, and the US Treasury issued a check for this amount, the further fate of which is vague. Another reason, according to Bondarenko, was the fact that the US government violated Article 3 of the treaty, which stipulates that the American authorities must ensure that the inhabitants of Alaska, formerly citizens of the Russian Empire, live according to their customs and traditions and the faith that they professed at that time. The Obama administration, with its plans to legalize same-sex marriage, infringes on the rights and interests of citizens who live in Alaska. Moscow Arbitration Court to consider a claim against federal government The USA refused.

BULLETIN OF THE RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, vol. 78, no. 10, 2008

Modern problems of exploration and development of the mineral resource base in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug are generated not so much objective reasons(among them the geological underexploration of the territory, unfavorable physiographic, socio-economic, infrastructural conditions), how many subjective factors determined by the will of people. The main among them is the inattention of the federal authorities to the development of the outlying Far Eastern territories of the country, ignoring their strategic significance and uniqueness - geopolitical, raw materials, natural and geographical.

The Chukotka Autonomous Okrug still remains one of the geologically promising regions of the country, where, unfortunately, the search, exploration and production of many minerals is being curtailed. It can be said that the market did not get along with harsh conditions this polar region. The stagnation of the geological study of the subsoil led to a massive outflow of specialists from the geological service from the district.

If before 1990 up to 4,000 people worked in geological exploration, today there are only 200-250 people. In the state geological service, represented by a single enterprise (FGUP "Region"), employs 40-50 employees.

Added to this is the "non-competitiveness" of the Chukotka deposits in comparison with similar deposits in other regions of Russia. This applies to placer deposits of gold and tin, as well as to primary deposits of tin, tungsten, uranium, copper, and polymetals. The same can be said about some ore gold deposits located in the distributed fund of subsoil plots, the subsoil users of which (mainly foreign companies) are in no hurry to start mining, not to mention reaching the possible annual capacity. According to the data of the territorial agency for subsoil use, in 2007 gold production in the ChAO decreased to the lowest level in the last decade and amounted to only 4.4 tons, against 15 tons in 1990.

As a result, in Chukotka there is:

depopulation of the territory;
abandoned settlements;
the desire to develop the territory on a rotational basis;
elimination of a significant part of social privileges;
sharp drop real income population;
extremely slow rates of geological and search and exploration works;
the destruction of many branches of the economy;
the decline of the Northern Sea Route;
the shortsightedness of the policy of attracting foreign capital to the exploitation of the wealth of the region;
ignoring the threat of external expansion.

Speaking frankly, public policy in relation to the region, you can’t call it anything other than slurred.

Brief description of the state of Alaska (USA)

As you know, Alaska was discovered in the 17th century. Russian explorers who founded a number of settlements there. During the Crimean War of 1853-1856. the tsarist government of Russia did not have the necessary forces and means to defend the Russian settlements in North America, and in 1867 Alaska was sold to the United States for 7.2 million dollars.

Now Alaska is a US state located in the northwest of North America, separated from the main part of the country by the territory of Canada. Area - 1519 thousand km2, indigenous people Indians, Aleuts and Eskimos. Administrative center Juneau City. Most of the population is concentrated in the south and southeastern parts Alaska. The most significant cities are Anchorage, Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka. In the northern and central regions the climate is cold, winter lasts 6-8 months. The southern, southwestern, and southeastern regions are seaside, with numerous islands and convenient ice-free bays.

Built in Alaska a large number of airfields, air forces and naval bases. More than 12,200 miles of public roads cross the state of Alaska. Two-thirds of the electricity consumed here is generated by gas power plants, 14% by hydroelectric power plants, 13% by fuel oil, 7% by coal, and 3.6% by other sources.

The population of the state is growing steadily: in 1980, 402 thousand people lived in Alaska, in 2000 -627 thousand, in 2006 - 640 thousand. According to forecasts, the annual increase will be 0.8% in 2001-2010, and in 2010-2025 gg. - 1.7%. For 30 years (1970-2000), the number of Alaska natives has doubled, there are now about 100 thousand of them. This makes us positively evaluate the US national-ethnic policy in the North.

Alaska is the only US state where the incomes of the poor are growing faster than those of the rich. When comparing the periods 1978-1980 and 1996-1998. it turns out that in the US as a whole, the incomes of the poorest (one-fifth) part of the population decreased by 6.5%, while in Alaska they increased by 17%, while the incomes of the richest fifth of the population increased by 33% and 2%, respectively.

Funds that ensure the stable development of the state economy are received through the redistribution of income from the basic raw materials industries. In total, according to G.A. Agranata, in Alaska, firms deduct at least 40-50% of their profits to the federal and regional treasuries, as well as to social needs through other channels (in particular, to support the indigenous population), which is significantly more than in other American states, especially in Russia. The burden of helping the state thus shifts from the federal treasury to private firms. This does not mean at all that central authorities abandoned an active policy towards northern state. The population of Alaska enjoys certain privileges; special programs infrastructure is being successfully developed. Central and regional authorities were able to force firms to pay adequately for the exploitation of natural resources. In essence, we are talking about the redistribution of natural resource rent, which is much talked about in Russia, but so far nothing has been done.

An important role in the economy of Alaska is played by the so-called Permanent Fund - a reserve credit fund, created at the expense of deductions from the income of the extractive industry, primarily the oil industry. Similar funds arose at about the same time in other countries specializing in raw materials - Canada, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and later in Norway. In 2006, the Alaska Permanent Fund was worth $33.7 billion—an impressive amount for a small population. In the words of Alaskan economists, in the event of "accident flights" the fund provides a "soft landing". The main expense item of the fund is the annual distribution of deposit interest from its main capital to the population.

Here is how W. Hickle, during whose governorship the Permanent Fund was created in Alaska, describes what has been achieved: New idea consists in the fact that the people of the Earth themselves own for the most part natural heritage. Our future depends on how we use this heritage - for the benefit of all or for a few. Here, in the Far North, we are building our state on the basis of this concept. It is the only such state in the world. The people of Alaska, through their government, own most of the natural wealth, land, forests, and subsoil. Without using either classical capitalism or socialism, we paved the way to prosperity, relying on common ownership resources "(quoted from). In essence, the governor was not afraid to force the monopolies to generously share their profits from the exploitation of the nation's natural wealth with the state and the population. W. Hickle admits that monopolies, preoccupied with corporate interests, cannot seriously care about solving the problems of Alaska, of which he says that “Alaska, the North is a child who requires many years of unpaid care, but, becoming an adult, will repay the loan, if not parents, then society.

The oil and gas industry is the largest component of the Alaska economy. About 85% of the state's budget comes from oil revenues. Oil was discovered in Prudhoe Bay, on the Arctic coast, in 1968. In 1974, construction began on an oil pipeline, completed in 1977. The 800-mile (1,280 km) oil pipeline is the largest privately financed project in history. Pipe diameter is 48 inches (1 m 22 cm), oil moves at a speed of 5.5 miles (8.8 km) per hour; it takes six days for it to arrive from Prudhoe Bay to the port of Valdez. AT oil and gas industry about 7,600 Alaskans are employed, earning 30% of the total personal income of Alaskans.

Alaska contains half of the US coal reserves and their largest silver and zinc mines. Currently, more than 1.5 million tons of low-sulfur coal are produced here annually. Approximately half of this is supplied as fuel to Alaska power plants, while the rest is exported to South Korea under a long-term contract.

Since 1990, Alaska has been exporting products worth about $3 billion annually. This is one of the most trade-oriented states in the US, exports are more important than for most other states, making up its economy. In terms of exports per capita, Alaska ranks third among US states, and seventh in terms of total state product (the sum of all goods and services produced in a year).

Alaska's largest foreign market is Japan, which consumes almost half of the peninsula's exports ($1.3 billion a year). The South Korean and Canadian markets are ranked second (18%) and third (9%) respectively, followed by China, Belgium, Taiwan, Germany, the Netherlands, England and Mexico. Equally distant from Northeast Asia, North America and Europe, Alaska is the crossroads for these three major economic regions of the world. Over the past 10 years, air cargo traffic across Alaska has more than doubled. Anchorage and Fairbanks airports receive 500 international cargo planes a week.

The experience of Alaska can be considered a very instructive example of the development of resource regions. He showed the possibility effective solution local political and socio-economic, as well as cultural issues similar territories. This is a reproach from Russia, which underestimated its own socialist practice of the recent past, which Alaska picked up.

The experience of Alaska is of exceptional importance for solving the problem of rent. Actually, the approach to this problem is the essence of American policy in this territory, although this is not always publicly emphasized. However, in many documents scientific papers Alaska's economy is directly called "rent".

The value of income from the exploitation of natural resources for Russia is much greater than for the United States. According to the calculations of Academician D.S. Lvov, the natural resource potential of our country is measured at 320-380 trillion. USD per capita is 2.5 million dollars, which, according to various estimates, is 2-3 or even 4-5 times more than in the United States. Moreover, approximately 60-70% resource potential countries are in the North.

However, the economy of Chukotka against the backdrop of Alaska looks, to put it mildly, unattractive. First of all, the fundamental difference is obvious: Americans see Alaska as a progressively developing region, a historical link in a continuous civilizational process, and our state seeks to obtain the wealth of the North at a low price, acting as a temporary worker.

Mineral resources of Alaska and Chukotka

The climatic conditions of Alaska are very similar to those of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, from which it is separated by a narrow strait. However, in economic terms as shown, these territories are not comparable.

The recent successes in the economic development of Alaska are primarily due to the discovery and development of several large oil and gas fields, a group of polymetallic deposits in the Red Dog region, as well as a number of large gold deposits associated with intrusions in the Tentin region (Fort Knox, Pogo, Dublin Gulch, etc. ).

Alaska produces 25% of the oil produced in the United States, and the two richest fields in the United States (Prudhoe and Kuporak) are located here. 30% off total volume proven US oil reserves are in Alaska: its continental shelf contains 41% of natural gas reserves and 29% of oil. In the 1990s, Alaska produced approximately 1.8 million barrels of oil and 1.25 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. The pipeline transports oil to seaport Valdez and then by tankers to the mainland of the United States.

According to the Division of Oil and Gas 2006 Annual Report, at the end of 2005 the Prudhoe and Kuporak fields were producing 900,000 barrels of oil per day. This level of production will continue in the area for the next five years. The Kuk Intel field, which provided 205,000 barrels of oil per day in the 1980s, produced only 19,500 barrels of oil per day in 2005. Oil production in the area will continue until 2025 from the Weaver Creek field and others. Exploratory drilling continued in 2005 in 27 licensed areas in the federal waters of the Biofort Basin. As a result, four new deposits were found: Kuvlum, Hamerhead, Sandpiper and Tim Island/Liberty. The State of Alaska is developing new licensing programs to attract investors to further explore oil and gas fields. The reserves of hydrocarbonate raw materials are being calculated. In 2005, the state issued four oil and gas prospecting and exploration licenses covering a total area of 1.66 million acres. In addition, applications have been submitted for three more new areas.

According to latest research Fraser Institute (Canada), Alaska is in seventh place in the world among 45 regions, promising in terms of mining. Suffice it to recall the "gold rush" of the beginning of the last century, when crowds of gold diggers poured onto the peninsula. It is estimated that almost 1,000 tons of gold have been mined from the depths of Alaska since then to the present. This is mainly placer gold, although vein gold was also mined if it came to the surface. In the 1990s, enterprises for the extraction of non-ferrous metal ores and gold were put into operation.

In 1996, the Fort Knox gold ore plant was put into operation. The mine daily produces 42 thousand tons of ore. Since 1996, 2 million ounces (56.6 tons) of gold have been produced here. Gold reserves in ore with a gold grade of less than 1 g/t are estimated at 3.8 million ounces. The enrichment of ore is carried out by purely gravitational methods. For the extraction of gold by sorption on Activated carbon it takes only 67 g of cyanide per ton of pulp. Currently, the plant produces 500 thousand ounces (14 tons) of gold per year. This is a good example of the successful exploitation of a gold deposit with poor but easily enriched ores.

The Pogo gold mine is located 90 miles east of Fort Knox. The mine is expected to produce 500,000 ounces of gold per year and employ 385 people. "Tails" of enrichment are planned to be laid in the mined-out area in order to reduce environmental damage. Capital investments in the construction of the complex are estimated at 250 million US dollars.

The reserves of the Donlin Creek deposit are estimated at 22.9 million ounces with a gold grade in some areas up to 5.2 g/t, and an average of 3 g/t. According to preliminary calculations, the capacity of the complex at this field can reach 1 million ounces per year. The amount of capital investment will be $380,600 million, and the cost of gold will be $241 per ounce. Recently, a detailed exploration of the deposit was completed here, which revealed additional ore reserves.

In addition to gold ores, Alaska also has non-ferrous ores. The Red Dog deposit with reserves of 25 million tons of zinc is the largest in the world. The ore here contains 19% zinc, 6% lead and 100 g/t of silver, that is, the quality exceeds the ores of all known deposits by 2-3 times. The Green Creek field is in second place in terms of the cost of production. Explored and proven reserves of ore containing 0.13 oz/t gold, 16.7 oz/t silver, 4.6% lead and 11.6% zinc amounted to 7.6 million tons by the middle of 2002. It should be noted that after 10 years of operation, the reserves increased by 25% thanks to prospecting work.

In 2006, the Red Dog mine on the Arctic coast (located approximately 90 miles north of Kotzebue) produced over 600,000 tons of zinc, representing over 60% of Alaska's mineral production. The Green Creek Mine, located on Admiralty Island, which produces silver, gold, zinc and lead, provided approximately 14%. The Fort Knox gold mine, 15 miles northeast of Fairbanks, contributed 11%. The total production of minerals in Alaska and its value are shown in Table 1.

In 2005, a record $348 million was spent on the development of the mining industry in Alaska. Most of the funds went to the construction of the Pogo and Kensington gold mines near Juneau. At the same time, mining companies allocated significant funds in 2006 - $176.5 million - for search and exploration work: 23 prospecting projects cost more than $1 million, and 40 projects - $100,000. In terms of investment, copper-molybdenum-porphyry gold-bearing objects rank first, gold deposits associated with intrusions rank second, gold-quartz and gold-silver vein deposits rank third, polymetallic deposits rank fourth, and copper-nickel deposits rank fifth. platinum-metal deposits and further - uranium, tin, diamonds, placers, coal, industrial materials, etc.

In 2005, more than 5,300 new applications were made for license areas covering almost 752,000 acres of public land and more than 400 applications for 8,200 acres federal state. In the same year, mining companies paid over $37 million in state and local taxes, up 40% from 2004.

As practice shows, investments in the search and extraction of minerals justify themselves. In 2004, in Alaska, within the antimony-mercury metallogenic zone of Kuskokwim, a super-large gold-arsenic-sulfide deposit of disseminated ores Donlin Creek was discovered, showing a striking similarity with the Maiskoye deposit of Central Chukotka. An analysis of the published data showed a discrepancy between the economic estimates used to calculate the reserves of gold-arsenic-antimony disseminated ores from deposits in Alaska and Chukotka. In Alaska, at the Donlin Creek deposit, cut-off grades of 0.7 g/t were taken for calculations and reserves of more than 880 tons of gold were calculated. The annual productivity of the mine can reach 33 tons.

And at the Mayskoye field, on the contrary, in 2001 the reserves were recalculated downward compared to those approved in 1980 in State Commission reserves (GKZ). To do this, the cut-off content of inclusions was increased from 3 to 6 g/t. Almost 100 tons of gold are classified as off-balance reserves (average grade 8 g/t). If we apply in domestic practice the estimated parameters adopted in Alaska, we can significantly increase the reserves of the explored deposits of the ChAO (Mayskoye, Tumannoye, Elvineyskoye, etc.). This is confirmed by the well-known example of reducing the cut-off grade to 0.4 g/t, which made it possible to increase the reserves of the Natalka deposit by almost an order of magnitude.

The Canadian company Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd continued to explore the Pebble porphyry copper deposit in Alaska, located 380 km southwest of Anchorage. The resource potential (the sum of reserves and resources) of gold in the West Pebble alone reaches 1307 tons, and the resource potential of the entire Pebble deposit is 2003 tons of gold, 22177 thousand tons of copper and 1308 thousand tons of molybdenum. Thus, the Pebble deposit acquires the features of a world copper-gold giant.

Within the Alaska Range, new discoveries follow one after another. The American company "Nevada Star Resource Corp" announced the results of exploration work within its own copper-gold project "MAN Alaska" in the central part of the Alaska Range (Alaska Range). Piper Capital Inc. announced the results of completed drilling at the Golden Zone gold project in the same area, AngloGold Ashanti published the results of work on epithermal gold (Terra project) in the western Alaska Range. The veins of the Terra site are described as banded, epithermal type with coarse-grained, well-defined gold and anomalous contents of arsenic, bismuth, and tellurium.

An analysis of Table 2 shows that the same industrial types of gold deposits have been identified in the compared regions. To date, there are no commercial gold and silver deposits in Alaska, such as in Chukotka (Kupol, Valunistoye), however, there are promising areas with the same type of mineralization within the Alaska Range. Now gold mining in Alaska is 3.5 times higher than in Chukotka.

It should be noted that, in general, the average contents of six industrial deposits Alaska (5.3 g/t) is 2.5 times lower than in Chukotka (13.5 g/t). At the same time, mines are already operating at three fields in Alaska (Fort Knox, Pogo, Kensington) (more than 17 tons in 2006), and the rest are planned to be commissioned in the next five years (estimated production will be about 70 tons per year) . Chukotka currently has two small mines at the Valunistoye (0.8 tpa) and Dvoinoye (0.2 tpa) deposits; however, it is planned to start operations at the Kupol mine (14.5 tpa) and resume operations at the Karalveem mine (about 1 tpa) in the near future.

Comparison of very similar deposits of the same type Donlin Creek and Maiskoye and Fort Knox deposits shows that if we apply the estimated parameters adopted in Alaska in domestic practice, then we can significantly increase the reserves of known fields of the ChAO (Mayskoye, Tumannoye, Elvineiskoye, Strong, Sovinoye, Kekkura, Palyangay and etc.). In the Baimsky region of Chukotka, further study of the known gold-bearing copper-molybdenum-porphyry deposits Peschanka, Nakhodka, etc., results comparable to those of the Pebble deposit can be obtained. The porphyry copper deposits of the ChAO are still in the unallocated fund.

findings

The authors fully agree with A.G. Agranate is that, as the experience of Alaska has shown, one should not be afraid of one-sided specialization of the territory in raw materials, that the dilemma "government and / or business" must be categorically resolved in favor of the authorities, that in northern regions justified by a broad, sometimes non-market approach to efficiency, payback of long-term investments. In this regard, we should not forget that Russian geologists and entrepreneurs began to actively explore Natural resources edge at the beginning of the past and even in the century before last. In 1909, the region was generally closed to foreign capital.

A powerful breakthrough in its development, as already noted, was made in the difficult for our country 30s of the last century. The creation of the Northern Sea Route proved to be a good stimulus for the development of Chukotka. It all started with the development of rich tin and tungsten deposits, which played important role during the war years. The largest Chukotka placers of gold, discovered and developed in the 50-70s, prevented the fall of gold mining in the Magadan region. Later, structures were identified in the region that control unique gold and silver deposits, and then - potential pools of hydrocarbon raw materials.

It is necessary to remember the heroic work of the pioneers of the region, to appreciate the huge intellectual and physical contribution of geologists and miners to the development of its wealth for the benefit of the Motherland. In our time, having excellent domestic specialists, one should not trust the search and evaluation of raw materials to foreign specialists: their interests can hardly coincide with our national ones, as, indeed, with the interests of the population of Chukotka.

You should be aware that as soon as the first hydrocarbon deposits are discovered in the ChAO, the value of all its other natural resources will increase many times over. This means that, subject to wise and prudent management of the region and its resources, it will be possible to set a goal to achieve the level of socio-economic well-being that can now be observed among neighbors, in the once wild and poor Alaska.

The work was done at financial support RFBR (grant 08-05-00135) and the program of the ONZ RAS No. 2.

Volkov A.V., Sidorov A.A.

LITERATURE

1. Nokleberg W.J., Bundtzen T.K., Grybeck D., Koch R.D., Eremin R.A., Rosenblum IS., Sidorov A.A., By-alobzhesky S.G., Sosunov G.M., Shpikerman V.I., Goro-dinsky M.E., 1993. Metallogenesis of mainland Alaska and the Russian Northeast: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Reports 93-339, 222 pages, 1 map, scale 1: 4000000; 5 maps, scale 1: 10000000.

2. Volkov A.V., Goncharov V.I., Sidorov A.A. Birthplace of gold and silver in Chukotka. Magadan: SVKNII FEB RAN, 2006.

3. Kiselev A.A., Ogorodnikov A.V. Mineral raw material base of gold in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. Prospects for development and development // Mineral Resources of Russia. 2001. No. 1.

4. Agranat G.A. Alaska - new model development of the resource region // ECO. 2003. No. 6.

5. Krasnopolsky B.Kh. Legal regulation of investments in a permanent (stabilization) fund: the experience of the state of Alaska, USA. Real estate and investments // Legal regulation. 2006. No. 1-2 (26-27).

7. Szumigala D.J., Hughes R.A. Alaska's mineral industry 2006: a summary. Information circular 54. Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys. 2007. March.

8. Goldfarb R.J., Ayuso R., Miller M.L. et al. The Late Cre-taceous Donlin Creek Gold Deposit, Southwestern Alas-ka: Controls on Epizonal Ore Formation // Econ. geol. 2004. V. 75. No. 4.

Mountains of Alaska. What are they?

The mountains of Alaska were first discovered and mapped by Russian travelers led by L. A. Zagoskin. For two years, from 1842 to 1844, they sailed several thousand kilometers along the tributaries of the Yukon. And they discovered the mountains of the Cordillera stretching south from the coast of Alaska.

The Cordillera is a system of mountain ranges with plateaus between them. consist of three belts of mountain ranges. The largest belt is located in the eastern part. In the western part there is a belt of the Aleutian Islands, a submerged volcanic chain of 111 islands. Beyond the Alaska Peninsula, the mountains are getting higher and higher, reaching 3500-4000 meters in height, and form the Alaska Range. It is here that the highest peak in North America is located - the two-headed McKinley with a height of more than 6000 meters. This name was given to the mountain in honor of the President of the United States, who ruled the country from 1897 to 1901. Between the eastern and western parts of the Cordillera are plateaus. There is also a third Cordillera belt. It runs along the Pacific coast.

The mountains of Alaska are comparatively young. Scientists suggest that they acquired their current form in Cenozoic era due to the instability of the local relief, as many extinct volcanoes located here can tell.

Weather conditions of the mountains of Alaska

It is impossible to characterize the climate of the mountains of Alaska in any way. specific word, because due to the ruggedness of the coastline and the rather large size of Alaska itself, the weather at its different points can be very surprising with its contrast. For example, in coastal areas in the winter season, the thermometer almost never drops below -5 due to the fact that the mountains do not let the cold wind through. Therefore, it is constantly damp and windy here. In areas further from the coast, the weather is less pitiful and can greatly spoil life with cold, gusty winds and frequent hurricanes, accompanied by heavy snowfall in winter.

The climate of Alaska made the development of agriculture on this land almost impossible. Here is the world's largest glaciation, with an area of approximately 104 square meters. km. But more recently, this figure was much higher. Glaciers are gradually melting, forming rays that go straight into the ocean. Interestingly, this creates conditions for the formation of patches of soil, in some cases even a small forest sprouts in these patches, which moves along with the melting water and ice.

It is thanks to their melting glaciers for many thousands of years that the mountains of Alaska today are exactly what they are. The peaks became sharper under the influence of glaciers, the descents became steeper, and some basins became deeper, and some were filled with water.

Natural wealth of Alaska

The flora of Alaska cannot be called scarce. In the southeast, you can find forests with deciduous trees, spruces, firs. These forests are impenetrable, full of marshy swamps and fallen trees blocking the way. There are a lot of ferns and mosses here, which, due to glut melt waters reach frightening proportions. In the forests there is a very large selection of different berries, but they are all fresh and watery.

In the mountain forests of Alaska, you can meet a grizzly bear, and the world's largest representatives of elks, bison, foxes, wolves, porcupines and beavers. In the rivers you will see the largest trout and salmon.

The main part of the mountains of Alaska, not occupied dense forests, represents tundra, snowy deserts and bare rocky areas. Animals here also live in a lesser variety - you can see a musk ox, a caribou deer, an arctic fox or a wild sheep.

Speaking of Alaska, one cannot help but recall the minerals that this land is full of in abundance. Platinum, mercury, lead, gold - this is not a complete list of mined here. useful resources. The southeastern forests provide a field for the timber industry. Reindeer breeding, fur farming and, of course, hunting are developed.

Where to go to a tourist in Alaska

Every year the number of people who want to come here is increasing. And this is not surprising, because Alaska is one of the few remaining places on the planet that man has not yet been able to fully influence. This is the land of wildlife, a land where everyone can feel as if transported millions of years ago and feel the primordial freshness and purity of this place, untouched by civilization.

One of the most visited places in Alaska by tourists is. It is located in the southern part. Mount Katmai is a large water-filled volcanic crater. The sight is unimaginably beautiful and very impressive. The height of this crater is almost 2 kilometers. It used to be even higher, but a volcanic eruption cut off its top on June 5, 1912. It was the largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century. Scientists are talking about likely future repeated eruptions.

Going to the mountains of Alaska, it is impossible not to be imbued with their unshakable power, this calm grandeur, millennial silence and centuries of history. A trip here will be remembered for a long time and will always be bright.

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