Alyeska (OTL Alaska) was discovered by Russian sailors coming from Novorossiya in 1583. After the Novorussian War of Independence, Novorossiya claimed all of Alyeska in 1644. The country was defended by a subdivision of the the Amur Army. 1652, Novorussians took Vancouver Island; and during the 17th century, Alyeska was expanded all the West Coast down to OTL San Francisco Bay. 1791, the first transoceanic telegraph cable (so to speak - it connected Alyeska with OTL Siberia) was built.