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ALASKA

In 1959 Americans welcomed Alaska into the Union as the 49th state. Attitudes¹ toward Alaska were different in 1867, when the peninsula² was purchased from Russia. The most Americans had little interest in a piece of land "586,000 square miles of icebergs and polar bears" beyond Canada's western borders, far from the settled areas of the United States.

Alaska is still a land of icebergs and polar bears. Ice masses lie in the earth to a depth of several hundred feet. From May until August the sun does not set on this flat, treeless region, but it never melts³ the icy soil.

Alaska is America's largest state, but only about 302,000 people live there. The Japan Current of the Pacific Ocean warms Alaska and the Arctic chills it. In a year, more than 10 meters of snow fall in the north while about 210 centimeters of rainfall descend upon the capital of Alaska in the south.

Alaska lies between about 71 degrees and 56 degrees north latitude, stretching from the Arctic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. It is divided into three regions. In the north, Arctic Alaska stretches from the Arctic Ocean to the mountains of Brooks Range. Central Alaska lies between the Brooks Range and the Alaska Range. The third region stretches from the Alaska Range to the Bering Sea and Russia.

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1. attitude n – отношение

2. peninsula n – полуостров

3. melt v – таять

THE MOUNTAIN OF HIS AGONY AND TRIUMPH

The Mount of Olives is a part of the main range of mountains running north and south through central and southern Palestine. It has the shape of a ridge¹ about two miles and a half in length with three summits², each of which today has it own name. The most northern summit, the highest of the three, is called Mount Scopus³. It is 2963 feet above sea level.

The most southern summit which is the lowest of the three is called the Mount of Offence or Corruption⁴. The central summit is called the Mount of Olives, though technically the name applies to the entire ridge. This summit is located just opposite the Temple area, and, since it is higher than the mountain on which Jerusalem stands, from it one has a clear view of the city.

The Mount of Olives is mentioned⁵ only twice by name in the Old Testament. In one of the reference⁶ (II Samuel 15:30), we have the pathetic picture of the aged King David fleeing⁷ his rebellious⁸ son, Absalom. The other Old Testament reference is in the Book of Zechariah (14:4).

The Mount of Olives figures very prominently in the last days of the ministry of Jesus from his triumphal entry into Jerusalem from the Mount up to the moment of His agony and triumph on the Mount of Olives. The view⁹ from the Mount of Olives is magnificent, but more important than that are the thoughts¹⁰ it inspires, because of its associations with Jesus.

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1. ridge n – горный кряж, гряда 2. summit n – вершина 3. Mount Scopus n – гора Скопус (обзора) 4. Mount of Offence (Corruption) n – гора Искушения 5. mention v – упоминать

6. reference n – ссылка, сноска 7. flee (fled) v – спасаться бегством 8. rebellious a – мятежный 9. view n – вид 10. thought n – мысль