How Big is Big? (Part 1)

You may have heard that Alaska is a big state. But you might not realize HOW BIG that really is.

There are a number of pictures showing the state of Alaska superimposed on the lower 48. Here is one.
















In addition, consider these facts:

• Alaska's 570,373 square miles is one-fifth the size of the continental U.S.

• Alaska is more than twice the size of Texas (which prides itself on bigness)

• It is larger than the combined area of the next three largest states: Texas, California, and Montana

• It is larger than the combined area of the 22 smallest U.S. states

• It is also larger than all but 18 sovereign countries!