Geography of Alaska

The geography of Alaska is defined by scale and extremes. Alaska is the largest state of the United States, with a land area of about 570,380 square miles, roughly 2.47 times the size of Texas, and it has more ocean coastline than all other states combined. Its terrain ranges from rainforest and fjords in the southeast to volcanic islands in the Aleutians, braided rivers in the Interior and tundra on the Arctic coast. About 65 percent of the land is federally owned [1].

Size and Position

Alaska is the largest state by land area, 570,380 square miles or 1,477,300 square kilometers, and the seventh-largest country subdivision in the world [1]. It borders Canada’s Yukon and British Columbia to the east, faces the Gulf of Alaska and Pacific Ocean to the south, Russia’s Chukotka region across the Bering Sea and Bering Strait to the west, and the Chukchi Sea, Beaufort Sea and Arctic Ocean to the north [1].

Extreme Points

Alaska is the northernmost state, and Utqiaġvik is the northernmost town in the United States. Because the Aleutian Islands cross the 180th meridian, Alaska extends into the Eastern Hemisphere and is both the westernmost and easternmost state. The International Date Line jogs west of 180 degrees so that the whole state stays in one legal day [1].

Coastline

Alaska has roughly 34,000 miles (55,000 kilometers) of tidal shoreline, which is more ocean coastline than all other U.S. states combined [1]. The coast includes fjords and glaciated inlets, marshes, barrier islands and rocky capes.

Regions

Common divisions describe six regions. South Central holds most of the population, including Anchorage. The Alaska Panhandle, or Southeast, includes the capital, Juneau, and tidewater glaciers. The Southwest is sparsely populated and important for fishing, with Bristol Bay and the Bering Sea. The Interior includes Fairbanks, with large braided rivers and tundra. The Alaskan Bush refers to areas without road or ferry access, including Nome, Bethel and Kotzebue. The Arctic region includes the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska [1].

Mountains and Volcanoes

Alaska includes many of the highest peaks in North America. Mount Shishaldin on Unimak Island reaches 9,980 feet, Mount Sanford rises in the Wrangell Mountains and Mount Spurr lies west of Anchorage. Many volcanoes are active, especially in the Aleutians [1].

Rivers and Lakes

The major rivers include the Yukon and Kuskokwim, both braided, along with the Kobuk and the Kenai. The state has about 3 million lakes [1]. The Turnagain Arm near Anchorage has tidal differences of more than 35 feet [1].

Glaciers and Ice

About 16,000 square miles of land are covered by glacier ice, and about 1,200 square miles of glacier ice lie in the tidal zone. The Bering Glacier complex alone covers about 2,250 square miles [1].

Permafrost and Wetlands

Marshlands and wetland permafrost cover about 188,320 square miles, a large share of the state [1]. Frozen ground shapes construction, hydrology and vegetation across the north and interior.

Climate and Land Ownership

Climate varies from the mild, very wet Southeast to the subarctic South Central, the extreme and dry Interior and the polar north [1]. About 65 percent of Alaska is federal land in national forests, parks and refuges, 24.5 percent is state-owned, about 10 percent is managed by Native corporations and less than 1 percent is private [1].

Why the Regions Differ

Alaska’s regions differ because of latitude, mountains and the sea. The Southeast and Gulf coasts receive Pacific moisture that supports rainforest and glaciers, while the ranges behind them block that moisture from reaching the Interior, where precipitation is low and temperature swings are large. In the far north, the Brooks Range and the Arctic coast are shaped by permafrost and sea ice [1].

Mountain Systems

Several major mountain systems cross the state, including the Alaska Range, the Wrangell and Chugach Mountains and the Brooks Range. Together they form barriers that divide the state into basins and coastal zones and provide the highest summits on the continent. Volcanoes in the Aleutian arc and the Alaska Peninsula mark the boundary where the Pacific Plate descends beneath North America [1].

Life on the Land

Because roads link only a part of the state, many communities depend on aircraft, boats and snowmachines. The label Alaskan Bush is used for areas without road or ferry access, and it includes regional hubs such as Nome, Bethel and Kotzebue [1]. Rivers act as roads in summer and ice highways in winter.

Land Management

With about 65 percent of the state in federal ownership, 24.5 percent held by the state and about 10 percent managed by Native corporations, Alaska’s land pattern is the result of statehood, the Native Claims Settlement Act and the conservation law of 1980 [1]. These land-ownership patterns affect access, resource development and conservation across the state.

Hazards

Geologic activity is part of Alaska’s geography. Volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods and wildfire all occur, and some of the highest tidal differences in North America, such as the 35-foot range at Turnagain Arm, affect coastal travel and construction [1].

FAQs

How big is Alaska? About 570,380 square miles of land, roughly 2.47 times the size of Texas.

How long is Alaska’s coastline? About 34,000 miles of tidal shoreline, more than all other states combined.

Is Alaska in the Eastern Hemisphere? Part of it is. The Aleutian Islands cross the 180th meridian.

How many lakes does Alaska have? About 3 million.

Who owns the land in Alaska? About 65 percent is federal, 24.5 percent state, about 10 percent Native corporations and under 1 percent private.

Sources

1. Wikipedia: Geography of Alaska

Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 12, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue