Which Is the Biggest State In USA?

Biggest State In USA: Have you ever wondered how big the United States is? Among its fifty diverse states, one truly stands out in terms of size. Tap to read which is the biggest state in USA. 

Which is the Largest State in the United States?

Out of all 50 states, Alaska is the largest state in the United States. It spans approximately 663,300 square miles!  Alaska is more than twice the size of Texas and is larger than the next 3 largest states (Texas, California, and Montana) combined. 

Also Read: How Many States are in the USA? Check the Complete List Here!

Why Is Alaska So Big?

Alaska was bought from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million and has often been referred to as "Seward's Folly" due to its remote location in North America. Alaska officially became a state in 1959 when most of the rest of the country had already become populated. In almost all directions, you will see the tall mountains, the large forests, and tundra, as well as icy glaciers.  

Interesting Features of Alaska:

Area: Alaska is about 663,300 square miles, accounting for approx. 17% of the total land area in the United States; it is roughly SEVEN times bigger than the next largest state, Texas! Alaska is such a large state that if it were cut in half, each side would still be larger than Texas!  Alaska alone is larger than the combined land mass of the 22 smallest US states!

Geography: Alaska's geography is very diverse. Alaska is home to Denali, the highest mountain in North America, which is 20,310 feet high. The state has thousands of glaciers, innumerable rivers and lakes, large and dense boreal forests, and vast Arctic tundra.  Alaska has the most coastline of any U.S. state, with over 33,900 miles of coastline including all islands. 

Population: Even though Alaska is extremely large, it has a very small population of approximately 730,000 people. Most of the population lives in a few urban centres, like Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau, while some regions are almost devoid of population. The limited number of people and communities is the result of harsh climate, remoteness, and difficult terrain.

Natural Resources: Alaska has rich natural resources, especially oil, natural gas, gold, fish, and timber. Oil drilling and exploration, especially in Prudhoe Bay and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System is a significant industry contributing to the state's economy. Fishing is another important industry, which provides a great deal of the seafood consumed in the U.S. and globally. 

Wildlife: Animals like grizzly bears, moose, caribou, wolves, and eagles can be found in almost every corner of Alaska. They share this natural habitat with whales, seals, and salmon which perfectly represent marine life. To protect these natural wonders, the state is surrounded by national parks and wildlife reserves. 

Culture: Indigenous people, including Inupiat, Yupik, Aleut, Tlingit, and Athabaskan have populated Alaska for centuries alongside its rich nature. Each of them has their unique traditions which make up a huge part of the culture. On the modern side, Alaska's citizens have shifted towards blending contemporary lifestyles with traditional Alaskan customs. Hunting, fishing, and gathering food still play an important role for many residents living in rural areas.

Top 5 Biggest States In USA 

Alaska is the largest state in the country by a considerable margin, here is a list of top 5 biggest states in USA.

Interesting Facts:

Time Zones: Because Alaska is so big, it used to have four different time zones. Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time (HAST) is used in the far Aleutian Islands, while Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is used in the majority of the state today.

Daylight: The ‘midnight sun’ is a phenomenon that occurs in parts of northern Alaska during the summer months when the sun does not set for roughly 82 days. Known as "polar night," some regions experience up to 65 days without sunlight during the winter.

Border: Alaska is unique in that it shares a border with Canada to the east and, at its narrowest point, is only 55 miles from Russia across the Bering Strait.

Glaciers: More glaciers are found in Alaska than in the entire United States. There are estimated to be over 100,000 glaciers, from small mountain glaciers to enormous ice fields.

Breathtaking sights: Alaska is home to some of the most breathtaking natural sights in the world, such as the Northern Lights, fjords and expansive tundra landscapes. 

Want to read more such interesting articles? Click here to read more: Top 10 Largest Countries (Area-Wise)