What is the largest state in the United States?
Alaska is the largest US state by area, covering about 1.72 million square kilometers. It is more than twice the size of Texas, the second-largest state.
Alaska is so large that if it were placed over the lower 48 states, it would stretch from coast to coast. It has the longest coastline of any US state and contains Denali, the highest peak in North America, at 6,190 meters. More than half of the country's coastline is in Alaska.
Despite its size, Alaska has only about 740,000 people, making it one of the least populated states. The United States bought Alaska from Russia in 1867 for 7.2 million dollars, about two cents per acre. It became the 49th state in 1959.
Other large states
Texas is the largest state in the contiguous United States, followed by California, Montana and New Mexico. By population, California is the largest state, with about 39 million residents, followed by Texas and Florida.
Did You Know?
Because the Aleutian Islands cross the 180th meridian, Alaska is technically both the westernmost and easternmost US state.