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If you count the territories it's even more of a landslide. Got everything from the tropical Virgin Islands to tundra northern Alaska and everything in between.
Alaska isn't a territory, it's a full-fledged state. Of course it counts, just as Hawaii counts and all 48 continental states count.
No one should be counting territories.
You didn't get my logic. I am speaking from a geographical perspective, not a political one.
Both a state or territory that is NOT part of the contiguous land should NOT be counted. Especially one that is 1500 mi/2400 km+ away and is adjoining other countries (this case, Canada and Russia). Now if Alaska were an island just a a few hundred kilometres off the coast of, say, California, then yeah you can count it. Same way Tasmania can be counted to determine Australia's climatic diversity, since it's only a few hundred kilometres to the south of the mainland.
The climate of Alaska is its own ballgame, since the region is not even connected to the contiguous US. So that's why I think it should be dismissed, whether it's a state, a territory and whatnot. Now if contiguous US were large enough to adjoin Alaska from, say, the northwest then you could count Alaska. This means Pacific coast Canadian cities like Vancouver would have to be in the US. Only this time Alaska stands a chance. Otherwise, no.
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