Alaska and Texas are the two largest states in the United States, but Alaska is significantly bigger. Many people are surprised to learn just how much larger Alaska is compared to Texas. This topic will explore the size differences between these two massive states, comparing their total land area, population, and geographic features.
Alaska vs. Texas: A Size Comparison
When it comes to total area, Alaska is by far the largest state in the U.S. Texas, while large, is much smaller in comparison. Below is a breakdown of their sizes:
- Alaska’s total area: 663,267 square miles (1,717,856 square kilometers)
- Texas’ total area: 268,597 square miles (695,662 square kilometers)
From these numbers, it is clear that Alaska is about 2.5 times larger than Texas in terms of total area. In fact, you could fit two Texases into Alaska and still have room left over!
Land Area vs. Water Area
Alaska not only has a vast land area but also contains a significant amount of water.
- Alaska’s land area: 571,951 square miles (1,481,346 square kilometers)
- Alaska’s water area: 91,316 square miles (236,510 square kilometers)
- Texas’ land area: 261,232 square miles (676,587 square kilometers)
- Texas’ water area: 7,365 square miles (19,075 square kilometers)
Alaska’s water area alone is larger than many U.S. states. This means that even though Texas has a vast landmass, it is still nowhere near the size of Alaska.
How Alaska and Texas Compare to Other States
To put things into perspective, Alaska is larger than the next three largest states—Texas, California, and Montana—combined. It is also larger than the 22 smallest U.S. states put together.
Even though Texas is known for being massive, it looks much smaller when compared to Alaska on a map. If you placed Texas inside Alaska, there would still be room for states like California and Montana.
Population Density: Alaska vs. Texas
Despite its massive size, Alaska has a much smaller population compared to Texas.
- Alaska’s population: About 730,000 people
- Texas’ population: Over 30 million people
This means that Texas has about 40 times more people than Alaska, even though it is much smaller in size. As a result, Texas has a high population density, while Alaska remains one of the least populated areas in the U.S.
Population Density Comparison
- Alaska’s population density: About 1.3 people per square mile
- Texas’ population density: About 114 people per square mile
Alaska’s low population density is due to its harsh climate, rugged terrain, and remote locations, which make it difficult for large communities to develop.
Geographic Features and Landscapes
Both Alaska and Texas have unique landscapes that make them special.
Alaska’s Geography
- Home to Denali, the tallest mountain in North America (20,310 feet)
- Over 100,000 glaciers, covering nearly 5% of the state
- More than 3 million lakes and 6,640 miles of coastline
- Vast wilderness, including national parks and forests
Alaska is known for its extreme weather conditions, with long, harsh winters and short summers. The state also experiences some of the coldest temperatures in the U.S., with areas like Fairbanks and Barrow reaching well below zero during winter.
Texas’ Geography
- Home to the second-largest canyon in the U.S., Palo Duro Canyon
- Diverse landscapes, including deserts, plains, forests, and coastlines
- Major rivers, including the Rio Grande and Colorado River
- Large cities like Houston, Dallas, and Austin
Texas has a much warmer climate compared to Alaska, with hot summers and mild winters. It also has a more diverse geography, ranging from deserts in the west to lush forests in the east.
Fun Facts About Alaska and Texas
- Alaska has more coastline than all other U.S. states combined.
- Texas is larger than many countries, including France and Germany.
- Alaska has 17 of the 20 highest peaks in the U.S.
- Texas was once an independent country before joining the U.S. in 1845.
- Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867 for just $7.2 million.
Alaska is much bigger than Texas—about 2.5 times the size in total area. While Texas is large in comparison to other states, it still cannot compete with the vast wilderness of Alaska. However, Texas has a much larger population, making it a bustling and highly populated state, while Alaska remains sparsely inhabited.
Whether you prefer the icy landscapes of Alaska or the warm, diverse terrain of Texas, both states are unique and hold an important place in the U.S.