The United States of America, known for its vast and diverse landscape, covers a large part of North America. However, the inclusion of Alaska, the largest state in the union, greatly increased its total size. To understand the scale of the United States without this large state, it is necessary to examine the figures that define the continental United States.
Continental United States without the Last Frontier
Alaska, often referred to as “The Last Frontier,” covers an impressive 663,268 square miles, representing approximately 17% of the total land area of the United States. Removing Alaska from the equation leaves the United States with approximately 3,119,885 square miles. This calculation clearly emphasizes the great size of Alaska and its contribution to the total area of the country.
Implications of Losing Alaska
Without Alaska, the United States would rank fourth in land in the world, behind Russia, Canada and China. The contiguous United States, also known as the “Lower 48,” still enjoys a variety of climates and topographies, from arid deserts in the southwest to dense forests in the northeast.
