Alaska: The Biggest U.S. State – Size, Facts, Wildlife & More!
Discover fascinating facts about Alaska, the largest U.S. state. Learn about its size, wildlife, climate, history, cities, and natural resources. Explore mountains, glaciers, the Northern Lights, and more in this ultimate Alaska guide!The biggest state in the U.S. by land area is Alaska. It covers about 663,267 square miles, making it far larger than the second-largest state, Texas, which is about 268,597 square miles. In fact, Alaska is so big that it could fit Texas inside it more than twice!
Here are more details about Alaska, the biggest state in the U.S.:
Size Comparison:
- Alaska:663,267 square miles
- Texas (2nd largest state):268,597 square miles
- California (3rd largest state):163,696 square miles
- Montana (4th largest state):147,040 square miles
Geographical Features:
- Coastline: Alaska has the longest coastline of any U.S. state, stretching 6,640 miles (more than all other states combined).
- Mountains: Home to Denali (Mount McKinley), the highest peak in North America at 20,310 feet.
- Glaciers: Over 100,000 glaciers, covering around 5% of the state.
- Lakes and Rivers: More than 3 million lakes and 12,000 rivers, including the Yukon River, one of the longest in North America.
Population vs. Size:
Despite its vast size, Alaska is one of the least populated states. It has about 730,000 people (2023 estimate), making it the third least populous state after Wyoming and Vermont.Climate & Weather:
Alaska has a wide range of climates, from temperate rainforest in the southeast to Arctic tundra in the north. Winters can be extremely cold, with temperatures dropping below -60°F in some areas.Fun Facts:
- If Alaska were a country, it would be the 18th largest in the world, between Iran and Mongolia.
- It has 24 hours of daylight in summer and 24 hours of darkness in winter in certain areas, such as Barrow (now called Utqiaġvik).
- Bought from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million (about 2 cents per acre).
History & Acquisition:
- The U.S. purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million (about 2 cents per acre).
- Many Americans at the time called it "Seward’s Folly" or "Seward’s Icebox", thinking it was a bad deal. However, it turned out to be an extremely valuable purchase due to its vast natural resources.
- Alaska officially became the 49th state on January 3, 1959.
Geography & Natural Landmarks:
- Total Area:663,267 square miles (more than one-fifth of the entire U.S.).
- Distance:
- North to South: About 1,400 miles.
- East to West: About 2,700 miles (wider than the lower 48 states).
- Bordering Regions:
- Canada (Yukon & British Columbia) to the east
- The Arctic Ocean to the north
- The Pacific Ocean to the south
- The Bering Sea to the west (Alaska is only 55 miles from Russia at its closest point!).
Mountains & Volcanoes:
- Home to Denali (Mount McKinley), 20,310 feet—the highest peak in North America.
- The Alaska Range and Brooks Range cover much of the state.
- Volcanic Activity: More than 130 volcanoes, with some still active.
- Mount Redoubt erupted in 2009.
- Novarupta had one of the largest eruptions in the 20th century (1912).
Climate & Weather:
- Diverse Climate Zones:
- Arctic (North): Extremely cold, with winter temperatures below -60°F.
- Interior (Fairbanks region): Very cold in winter, but can reach 90°F in summer.
- Coastal (Southeast & South): Milder, with rainforests and wet conditions.
- Northern Alaska has "Polar Night" and "Midnight Sun":
- In Utqiaġvik (Barrow), the sun doesn’t rise for 65 days in winter!
- In summer, there are up to 80 days of continuous daylight.
Wildlife & Nature:
- Bears: Alaska is home to three species of bears:
- Grizzly bears
- Black bears
- Polar bears (found in the Arctic regions).
- Moose, Wolves, and Caribou: Huge populations of moose, wolves, and caribou herds roam the state.
- Whales & Marine Life: You can see humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, and seals along the coasts.
- Bald Eagles: More bald eagles live in Alaska than in all the other 49 states combined.
People & Culture:
- Population: About 730,000 people (2023 estimate).
- Largest City:Anchorage (~290,000 people).
- Capital:Juneau (only U.S. capital that is not accessible by road—must take a plane or boat!).
- Indigenous Peoples:
- Alaska Natives include Inuit (Iñupiat and Yup'ik), Aleut, and various Indigenous tribes.
- They have lived in the region for thousands of years.
- Totem poles and other Native traditions are important in Alaska’s culture.
- Languages:
- English is most common, but 20 Indigenous languages are recognized.
- Alutiiq, Tlingit, Iñupiaq, and Yup'ik are still spoken by many Native communities.
Interesting Facts:
- Alaska has no official state sales tax or income tax!
- Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis):
- Best seen in Fairbanks and other northern regions, especially in winter.
- Alaska Time Zone:
- One hour behind Pacific Time (PST -1).
- No roads connect Alaska to its capital, Juneau.
- Biggest Oil Discovery:
- The Prudhoe Bay Oil Field is the largest in North America.
- Alaska’s Iditarod Race:
- A 1,000-mile dog sled race held every March, honoring the historic serum run to Nome (1925).
Why Alaska is Important:
- Oil & Natural Resources:
- The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) carries millions of barrels of oil from the Arctic to the south.
- Military Importance:
- Alaska is home to several U.S. military bases because of its strategic location between North America and Asia.
- Tourism:
- People visit for glaciers, wildlife, cruises, and outdoor adventures like hiking, fishing, and dog sledding.
1. Alaska’s Unique Geography
Size & Land Features
- Total land area:663,267 square miles (~17% of the U.S.).
- How big is that?
- Alaska is twice the size of Texas.
- If Alaska were a country, it would be the 18th largest in the world, between Iran and Mongolia.
- It’s bigger than California, Texas, and Montana combined!
- Islands:
- Alaska has over 2,600 islands!
- The Aleutian Islands stretch almost to Russia (the westernmost part is in the Eastern Hemisphere).
- Kodiak Island is the second-largest island in the U.S. (after Hawaii’s Big Island).
Extreme Points
- Northernmost point
oint Barrow (Utqiaġvik) – Near the Arctic Ocean. - Southernmost point:Amatignak Island – Part of the Aleutian Islands.
- Westernmost point:Attu Island – So far west, it crosses the International Date Line!
- Easternmost point:Semisopochnoi Island – Because of the Aleutians, Alaska is both the westernmost and easternmost state!
2. Alaska’s Climate & Weather
- Diverse climate zones:
- Arctic (North Slope): Long, brutal winters. Temps can drop below -60°F.
- Interior (Fairbanks, Denali): Can hit 90°F in summer, but winters can reach -50°F.
- Southeast (Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan): Rainy and mild (like Seattle).
- Southcentral (Anchorage, Kenai, Valdez): Cold, but not as extreme.
- Alaska is home to the U.S.’s coldest temperature ever recorded: -80°F (Prospect Creek, 1971).
- The most snowfall in one season:974 inches (Thompson Pass, 1952-53).
Polar Night & Midnight Sun
- Utqiaġvik (Barrow):
- No sun for 65 days (November to late January).
- Sun never sets for 80+ days in summer (May to August).
- Fairbanks:
- Gets over 22 hours of sunlight in June.
- Hosts Midnight Sun Baseball Games every summer!
3. Alaska’s Wildlife
Land Animals
- Grizzly Bears
- Alaska has the highest population of grizzly bears in the U.S. (~30,000).
- Kodiak bears (a grizzly subspecies) are among the largest bears on Earth!
- Black Bears & Polar Bears
- Black bears: Found across most of Alaska (~100,000 total).
- Polar bears: Live near the Arctic coast—one of the few places you can see them in the wild!
- Moose & Caribou
- Moose: The largest in North America (up to 1,500 pounds).
- Caribou: Large herds (like reindeer) migrate across the tundra.
Marine Animals
- Whales: Humpback, orca, gray, and beluga whales migrate through Alaska’s waters.
- Walruses & Seals: Found in the Arctic and Bering Sea.
- Sea Otters: Playful and known for floating on their backs in kelp forests.
Birds
- Bald Eagles:
- More bald eagles live in Alaska than in the other 49 states combined!
- The Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve has over 3,500 eagles every winter.
- Puffins: Cute seabirds with colorful beaks, found along the coast.
4. Alaska’s People & Cities
- Total Population: ~730,000 people (~0.2% of the U.S. population).
- Most people live in Southcentral Alaska (Anchorage area).
Biggest Cities
- Anchorage (~290,000 people) – Largest city, business & cultural hub.
- Juneau (~32,000 people) – The capital, only reachable by plane or boat.
- Fairbanks (~32,000 people) – In the interior, famous for Northern Lights.
- Sitka (~8,500 people) – A historic Russian settlement.
- Ketchikan (~8,200 people) – Known for its totem poles and fishing industry.
Alaska Natives
- About 15% of Alaska’s population is Indigenous.
- Major Alaska Native groups:
- Inuit (Iñupiat & Yup'ik) – Live in the Arctic.
- Aleut (Unangax) – Found on the Aleutian Islands.
- Tlingit, Haida, and Athabaskan – Southeastern Alaska and the interior.
- Totem poles are an important part of Tlingit and Haida culture.
5. Fun & Unique Alaska Facts
No Sales Tax or Income Tax!
- Alaska is one of the only states with no state sales or income tax.
The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD)
- Alaska pays residents a yearly check (usually $1,000–$2,000) from oil revenues.
- You just need to live in Alaska for one full year to qualify!
The Iditarod – The "Last Great Race"
- A 1,000-mile sled dog race from Anchorage to Nome.
- Inspired by the 1925 Serum Run, when sled dogs delivered medicine to fight a diphtheria outbreak.
- Famous sled dogs:
- Balto: Led the last leg of the 1925 race—there’s a statue of him in New York!
- Togo: Actually ran farther and is considered the true hero.
Alaska’s Record-Breaking Fishing
- The largest salmon ever caught: 126 pounds (Kenai River).
- Dutch Harbor (Aleutian Islands) is the top fishing port in the U.S..
Alaska’s State Symbols
- State Bird: Willow Ptarmigan
- State Fish: King Salmon
- State Flower: Forget-Me-Not
- State Sport: Dog Mushing
6. Why Alaska Matters
Natural Resources
- Oil & Gas:
- The Prudhoe Bay oil field is the largest in North America.
- The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) runs 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez.
- Gold:
- The Klondike Gold Rush (1890s) helped put Alaska on the map.
- There are still active gold mines today!
Strategic Military Importance
- Alaska is the closest U.S. state to Russia.
- The U.S. has major military bases in Alaska, including:
- Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) – Anchorage
- Eielson Air Force Base – Fairbanks
Alaska is an incredible state—bigger, wilder, and more extreme than anywhere else in the U.S.!