The Great Land vs. The Lone Star State: A Tale of Two Very Different Sizes
Ah, Texas and Alaska. Two titans of the American landscape, each with their own undeniable charm. Texas: big hats, bigger egos, and the best darn chili this side of the Mississippi (or maybe that's just what they want you to believe). Alaska: glaciers, grizzlies, and enough wilderness to make even the most intrepid explorer need a nap. But one question has plagued geographers, cowboys, and lovers of large things for decades: Why is Alaska bigger than Texas?
 |
| Why Is Alaska Bigger Than Texas |
It's All in the History, Folks
Tip: Rest your eyes, then continue.
Texas sure likes to brag about being the "biggest" state, but that title only applies to the contiguous United States. Back in the day (1867, to be exact), when Secretary of State William Seward negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia for a cool $7.2 million (about $135 million today, a steal!), he probably wasn't thinking too much about square footage. Maybe he was just excited about getting a new icebox for the country. Whatever the reason, that purchase turned out to be a land area game-changer.
Tip: Scroll slowly when the content gets detailed.
The Size Does Matter (A Little)
 |
Now, don't get us wrong, Texas is nothing to sneeze at. It's a whopper of a state, you could fit several European countries in there quite comfortably. But Alaska? Alaska is monumental. You could fit two Texases inside Alaska, with room left over for Oklahoma (sorry, Oklahoma). That's some serious elbow room.
Tip: Break long posts into short reading sessions.
But Wait, There's More! Fun Facts About Alaska's Enormity
- Alaska is bigger than all but 18 countries in the world. That's like having your own personal continent (without all the pesky border control).
- You could combine the areas of Texas, California, and Montana, and Alaska would still be larger. Maybe they should have called it "Greater Texas" instead.
- Alaska's coastline is longer than the entire lower 48 states combined. That's a lot of beach for combing for seashells (or hiding from murderous snow bears, depending on your vacation goals).
How Big is Alaska Really? Asking the Important Questions
Reminder: Focus on key sentences in each paragraph.
Okay, so we've established that Alaska is the undisputed heavyweight champion of U.S. states. But how big is it really? Here's a quick breakdown:
- Alaska: 665,384 square miles (that's a lot of square miles, folks)
- Texas: 268,596 square miles (still respectable, Texas, we see you)
Frequently Asked Humorous Alaska-Sized Questions
- How to fit Texas in Alaska? Easy! Just fold Texas in half a few times (figuratively, please don't try this at home).
- How to avoid getting lost in Alaska? Hire a very good guide, and maybe bring a compass (the cell service can be spotty).
- How to convince a Texan that Alaska is bigger? Show them a map, and maybe offer them some mental health counseling for the resulting existential crisis.
- How to celebrate Alaska's enormousness? With a giant waffle breakfast, obviously. Everything's bigger in Alaska, even breakfast portions.
- How to deal with the newfound knowledge that Alaska is much bigger than Texas? Embrace it! Now you can impress your friends at trivia night and finally win that bragging rights trophy.
 |
