Which group of islands is part of Alaska and is closest to Russia?

The Aleutian Islands are indeed the group of islands that are part of Alaska and are closest to Russia. This archipelago stretches in a westward arc from the Alaska Peninsula towards the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia. The islands are significant not only geographically, as they serve as a natural boundary between the Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, but also politically and historically due to their proximity to Russia.

In the Aleutian Islands, the distance between the farthest islands and the Russian mainland is less than 2.5 miles across the Bering Strait, which emphasizes their closeness to Russia. This connection is also noteworthy in terms of indigenous culture, wildlife migration patterns, and historical events such as World War II, when the islands were a strategic location.

The other groups mentioned do not have the same geographical relationship with Russia. The Channel Islands are located off the coast of California, the Alaskan Gulf Islands are situated nearer to mainland Alaska and do not extend towards Russia, and the Hawaiian Islands are located in the central Pacific Ocean, far from the Alaskan coastline. Thus, the Aleutian Islands are uniquely positioned as the Alaskan islands closest to Russia.