Which U.S. State Has the Longest Coastline?

When thinking about long coastlines in the United States, most people think of California and Florida. These two states are known for their beautiful beaches and busy coastal cities. But the state that actually has the longest coastline may come as a surprise to many readers. 

Because of these factors, the question about which state has the longest coastline is often asked in quizzes and competitive exams and has sparked many discussions among people discussing general knowledge.

 Most people assume that the longest coastline lies within the contiguous United States, and they would assume, incorrectly, that it is located in a warm climate with many tourist attractions. 

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Which U.S. State Has the Longest Coastline?

Source: Geography Realm

Alaska's coastline is far longer than any other U.S. state and stretches for about 33,904 miles. This vastly exceeds Florida (the longest coastline of the contiguous United States) which has a total of about 1,350 miles of coastline and other states such as California whose coastlines are around 840 miles long, and because of the quantity of irregular shapes along with the many different types of islands, bays, and fjords that add depth to length.

 For example, the Aleutian Islands chain protrudes into the Pacific Ocean still another example of an Irregular Shoreline.

Why Is Alaska’s Coastline So Long?

Due to its geographical configuration, Alaska's coastline has one of the longest lengths of any state in North America.

 Several thousand islands comprise Alaska's coastal geography, including the Aleutian Islands and the Alexander Archipelago. Deep bays, inlets, and fjords that were formed over millions of years from glacial activity create a great deal of irregularity in the coastline. 

Ultimately, when all of these geographical features are tallied together, the length of Alaska's coastline is astronomical.

In addition, Alaska is bordered on three sides by large bodies of water: the Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea. As a result, Alaska has an even longer coastline.

How Does Alaska’s Coastline Compare to Other U.S. States?

When it comes to coastline, no other state in the U.S. comes close to Alaska. With approximately 33900 miles of coastline, Alaska has more than half of all U.S. coastlines combined. 

The longest coastline on the U.S. Mainland belongs to Florida  at approximately 1350 miles, and California has about 840 miles. When you add up all of the coastlines from the other states, they still do not add up to the total amount of coastline found along Alaska's coastlines. 

This vast disparity between the amount of coastline found along the coast of Alaska compared to that of the other states is due to the geographical diversity of Alaska's coastline. 

Some of this diversity comes from the numerous islands and peninsulas that comprise Alaska's coastlines; this diversity creates a unique coastline that is unmatched by any other state in the U.S.

Conclusion

The oceanfronts of every state in America are defined by the vastness of their coastlines; However, Alaska's coast is much larger than any other American coastline. Alaska has many islands, mountains, and glaciers along its coast. All these geographical features create an extraordinarily large physical area along this coastline.