Alaska, often referred to as the “Last Frontier,” is a land of superlatives. From towering mountains and vast glaciers to sprawling forests and abundant wildlife, everything in Alaska seems larger than life. But when people marvel at its immensity, a common question arises: How Big Is Alaska Compared To The United States? Understanding Alaska’s size relative to the rest of the US is key to grasping its unique geography, resources, and significance.
Alaska is, in fact, enormous. It’s the largest state in the United States by a significant margin. To truly appreciate its scale, consider these comparisons: Alaska’s total area is approximately 665,384 square miles (1,723,337 square kilometers). This vast expanse means Alaska is more than twice the size of Texas, which is the second-largest state. If you were to lay a map of Alaska over a map of the contiguous United States, it would stretch from California to Florida.
To put it another way, Alaska is larger than all but 18 countries in the world. Imagine fitting states like California, Montana, and New Mexico all within Alaska’s borders and still having room to spare. This sheer size dictates much of Alaska’s character, from its sparse population density to its diverse ecosystems and the logistical challenges of transportation and development.
While the entire state of Alaska is immense, even specific regions within Alaska are considerable. South-Central Alaska, for example, though just a part of this giant state, is still a substantial area encompassing diverse landscapes and key population centers. This region, known for its stunning beauty and resource richness, showcases just a fraction of the Alaskan wilderness, yet it is larger than many US states themselves.
South-Central Alaska is a diverse region of Alaska known for king-sized vegetables, lush forests, soaring mountain peaks, and protected harbors. It is also known for its oil and gas exploration and its lush farmland. Because it is protected from the Arctic weather by the 450-mile Alaska mountain range the Matanuska Valley, less than an hour north of Anchorage, is world-famous for its farm production. Enormous vegetables like 80-pound cabbages, 6 pound potatoes and 1500 pound pumpkins are grown annually.
Two thirds of Alaska’s residents live in South-Central, which is home to Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage. Anchorage is Alaska’s social, financial, trade and distribution center and is home to one of America’s busiest airports due to it being a major hub for international cargo shipments.
The Kenai Peninsula is also part of the South-Central region of Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula is where Alaskan’s go to play. It is as famous for it’s salmon and halibut fishing as it is for it’s camping and hiking. It’s also home to Kenai Fjords National Park, which can be accessed in Seward, Alaska. Whittier Alaska, on the Kenai is where many cruise ships start and end their Alaska Cruises. It is the closes cruise port to Anchorage. Whittier, Alaska is a small town that is accessed by the longest combination train/car tunnel in North America (2.5 miles).
Valdez is also part of South-Central Alaska. It is a beautiful city which is know for it’s boat tours into the stunning Prince William Sound. Columbia Glacier and Mears Glacier are the two biggest attractions in The Sound. These huge tidewater glaciers often put on an incredible show of calving enormous icebergs off their face. Valdez is only 119 miles from Anchorage by air, but 305 miles by the road (Richardson Highway and Glenn Highway)
Finally, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough (known as the Mat-Su) is also part of the South-Central Region. The Mat-Su is just outside of Anchorage and the major towns are Wasilla, Palmer and Talkeetna.
In conclusion, when considering how big Alaska is compared to the United States, it’s clear that Alaska is a land of immense scale. Its size dwarfs other US states and even rivals many countries. This vastness is not just a geographical fact; it’s fundamental to understanding Alaska’s identity, its challenges, and its unparalleled natural beauty. Exploring regions like South-Central Alaska provides a glimpse into the diverse landscapes contained within this giant, reinforcing just how truly big and remarkable Alaska is.
