The Great Alaskan Tetris: How Many New Yorks Can You Fit Up There?
Let's face it, folks, Alaska is big. You know it, I know it, even that squirrel outside your window knows it (he's probably using it to store his winter nut stash). But just how big is Alaska? Big enough to play a real-life game of Tetris with entire states, that's how big! Buckle up, geography nerds (and curious squirrels), because we're about to find out how many New Yorks you could cram into the Last Frontier.
The Not-So-Scientific Investigation: Operation Stack-a-State
For this thought experiment, we're going to assume a few things:
- We're using the entire state of Alaska, not just the mainland. Wrangell Island? Incoming!
- We're talking about land area only, folks. Sorry, New Yorkers, your fancy harbor isn't part of this competition.
- We're going to strategically stack the New Yorks for maximum Tetris efficiency. No lopsided leaning New Yorks here!
With those ground rules in place, let's grab our virtual ruler and get stacking.
Drumroll please... Alaska, you magnificent behemoth, could fit a whopping 12 New Yorks within your borders! That's right, a dozen Empire States, twelve Wall Streets, twelve slices of the Big Apple pie (although, Alaska probably has a better pie game).
Wait, there's more! Here's some additional fun facts to boggle your mind:
- Alaska is so big, it could swallow Texas, California, and Montana whole, with room left over for a picnic.
- Alaska's coastline is longer than all the other US coastlines combined. That's a lot of beachcombing potential, if you can handle the chilly waters.
So, What Does This Mean for You, the Average Citizen?
Probably not much, to be honest. But hey, at least you can impress your friends at the next trivia night with the knowledge that Alaska is a Tetris champion. You can also use this information to settle bets, brag about the vastness of America (or just Alaska, really), or maybe just picture a dozen tiny New Yorks nestled comfortably in the Alaskan wilderness.
Important Note: This exercise is purely for entertainment purposes. There's no official competition to stack states in Alaska, and we wouldn't recommend trying it in real life (unless you have a really big spatula).
FAQ: Stacking Your Own State Dreams
Inspired to play some Tetris with your own state? Here are some quick tips:
How to find the area of your state? A quick Google search with "[State Name] Area" should do the trick.
How to find the area of Alaska? Same trick as above, but you already know the answer is huge!
How to stack states like a pro? Consider shape and border alignment for maximum efficiency. Maybe New Jersey would fit nicely next to Rhode Island?
How many of my state can fit in Alaska? Do the math! Divide Alaska's area by your state's area and round down to the nearest whole number.
How to convince your friends this is a real competition? Good luck with that. But hey, you can always try bribery with pie (Alaska's or your state's, your choice).
