Many people have grossly inaccurate conceptions about Alaska, particularly about its size and location. Many otherwise well-educated people actually think Texas is the largest state in the Union, but Texas is tiny compared to Alaska, less than half the size! The Malaspina Glacier itself is bigger than Rhode Island, and if Alaska was set on top of the lower 48 states, it would reach from California to Florida. Why the misperceptions? I guess you could blame it on the schools, but I blame it on weather maps, almost all of which show Alaska in a tiny box alongside Hawaii somewhere to the Southwest of California (that is, if they even show Alaska at all). Ridiculous! Hopefully the information below will enlighten many on the vastness of Alaska and provide a proper geographic perspective (and placement).

A typical map showing Alaska south of California, right next to Hawaii. And look how tiny they made Alaska! Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong!

To illustrate how large Alaska is, this is the true size of Alaska in proportion to the rest of the United States. Note that the Aleutian Islands stretch all the way San Francisco, California, while the "panhandle" of Southeast Alaska extends all the way to Jacksonville, Florida.

A true map of the United States would look like this map, with Alaska and Hawaii in the proper place and in correct proportions. Quite a difference from those erroneous weather maps! So what do you say, isn't it time to make a stand for the truth and demand that Alaska be shown in its proper place and perspective?

 

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