Alaska takes the pride of being the U.S state with the longest freshwater coastline that extends up to a stretch of 54, 563 km. With 50 major states and territories, the United States of America is the 3rd largest country in the world. And among these, several major states have coastlines whereas a few are landlocked. It is interesting to know that the U.S.A has the 8th longest coastline in the world.
Alaska’s Climate & Population
Surrounded by the Arctic Ocean, the Bering Sea, and the Pacific Ocean, Alaska ranks first among the U.S states with the longest coastline closely followed by Florida. The northwestern state is extremely cold that temperatures drop down to -30C during the winter.
The extreme climate makes the state sparsely populated with a mere 7 lakh plus residents for such a huge land area. The government wanted to increase the population so much so that it formed a Permanent Fund Dividend Division to pay up to $2000 for the permanent residents of the state every year from the income earned through the state’s oil resources.
How many coastlines does the United States have?
- A. 40
- B. 30
- C. 20
- D. 10
Only a few cities like Juneau (Capital), and Anchorage have a good number of residents. It is also interesting to note that the nights are longer than the days. This is one of the major reasons behind the state’s sparse population. Alaska was initially owned by Russia. The U.S purchased it for its gold rush in the 1890s which later earned the status of an independent state.
The Northern Lights of Alaska
Snowy mountains, rich wildlife, breathtaking scenic views, and more than 3000 rivers are some of the greatest assets of Alaska. These features make it one of the best tourist destinations in the world. The aurora borealis or the popularly called Northern Lights (a neon illumination in the sky because of the disturbances in the magnetosphere) that can be seen from the Fair Banks of Alaska is another reason why several tourists visit the place every year.
Also, find the US states that border the pacific ocean and play fun trivia quizzes to test your geography knowledge.
Are you curious to know which state has the longest coastline? We have just referred to the U.S. Coastal State ranking updated by Wikipedia to make this blog more interesting and informative. If you know the US state with the longest coastline, you can verify the facts and take our quiz on the longest coastline to validate your answers.
Without any further ado, proceed to read our blog to find some interesting statistics on coastline length, shoreline, and much more.
Which State has the Longest Coastline?
Alaska takes the pride of being the U.S state with the longest freshwater coastline that extends up to a stretch of 54, 563 km. With 50 major states and territories, the United States of America is the 3rd largest country in the world. And among these, several major states have coastlines whereas a few are landlocked. It is interesting to know that the U.S.A. has the 8th longest coastline in the world.
Alaska’s Climate, Population, and Why It Tops the U.S. Coastal State Ranking
Surrounded by the Arctic Ocean, the Bering Sea, and the Pacific Ocean, Alaska ranks first among the U.S. states with the longest coastline closely followed by Florida. The northwestern state is extremely cold and temperatures drop down to -30C during the winter.
The extreme climate makes the state sparsely populated with a mere 7 lakh plus residents for such a huge land area. The government wanted to increase the population so much that it formed a Permanent Fund Dividend Division to pay up to $2000 for the permanent residents of the state every year from the income earned through the state’s oil resources.
Only a few cities like Juneau (Capital), and Anchorage have a good number of residents. It is also interesting to note that the nights are longer than the days. This is one of the major reasons behind the state’s sparse population. Alaska was initially owned by Russia. The U.S. purchased it for its gold rush in the 1890s which later earned the status of an independent state.
The Northern Lights of Alaska
Snowy mountains, rich wildlife, breathtaking scenic views, and more than 3000 rivers are some of the greatest assets of Alaska. These features make it one of the best tourist destinations in the world. The aurora borealis or the popularly called Northern Lights (a neon illumination in the sky because of the disturbances in the magnetosphere) that can be seen from the Fair Banks of Alaska is another reason why several tourists visit the place every year.
Top 10 U.S. Coastal States Ranking
| State | Rank | Coastline Length |
| Alaska | 1 | 33,904 mi (54,563 km) |
| Florida | 2 | 8,436 mi (13,576 km) |
| Louisiana | 3 | 7,721 mi (12,426 km) |
| Maine | 4 | 3,478 mi (5,597 km) |
| California | 5 | 3,427 mi (5,515 km) |
| North Carolina | 6 | 3,375 mi (5,432 km) |
| Texas | 7 | 3,359 mi (5,406 km) |
| Virginia | 8 | 3,315 mi (5,335 km) |
| Michigan | 9 | 3,224 mi (5,189 km) |
| Maryland | 10 | 3,190 mi (5,130 km) |
Author Note: Table derived from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Besides Alaska, there are several other States boasting the longest coastline in the United States that you need to know about.
Florida
Florida is divided into a total of ten coastal regions with 13,576 km long coastlines, the Space Coast boasts the Kenndy Space Center, and the Treasure Coast was named after the Spanish ships which assumed to have sunk centuries ago. Gold Coast, similar to its name, is the wealthiest among all the other coasts. Sun Coast, seems to get the bounty of Sunshine most days.
Louisiana
Louisiana ranks the third Longest coastline in a U.S. state with a 12,426 km long coastline. This coastline comprises a long but indented coastline along the Gulf of Mexico. The coastline extends from the Sabine River on the west to the Pearl River on the east. The Grand Isle remains the most popular beach with soft sandy beaches and bird-watching spots.
Maine
Maine remains the best tourist destination as it has the Acadia National Park, lakes, rivers, lobster boat outings, and so on. Among these, this state appears to have a beautiful coastline along the Gulf of Maine that remains the center of attention. The Maine coastline spans 5,597 km including 3000 islands in different shapes.
North Carolina
North Carolina expands over 5,432 km of Coastline along the Atlantic Ocean to the East. Barrier Island is a famous tourist destination where people can watch sunrise and sunset.
Texas
Texas has 5,406 km of coastline along the Gulf of Mexico. It is the most famous beach location known for its relaxing ambience.
Now, you know the most famous longest coastline in the United States.
Also, find the US states that border the Pacific Ocean and play fun trivia quizzes to test your geography knowledge.