The tale of how and why Russia ceded its control over Alaska to the US 150 years ago is actually 2 tales and 2 intertwining histories.

President-elect Donald Trump’s interest in buying Greenland mirrors the U.S. acquisition of Alaska in 1867 for $7.2 million. While the Alaska deal faced criticism, it proved successful after the Klondike Gold Strike.

A polar bear family group, consisting of an adult female and two cubs, crosses glacier ice in Southeast Greenland in this handout photograph taken in September 2016. NASA OMG/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin on Thursday said that Russia had strategic national interests in the Arctic when asked to comment on U.