How well do you really know the map? This higher or lower state size game shows you two US states and asks which one covers more ground, measured in total square miles from the US Census Bureau. Alaska and Texas are giveaways, but can you tell Michigan from Minnesota or Georgia from Illinois without peeking at an atlas?
State sizes are measured by the US Census Bureau as total area, which includes land plus inland, coastal and Great Lakes water inside each state's boundary. That is why a state like Michigan, with huge stretches of the Great Lakes, ranks higher than you might expect from its land alone. Alaska is by far the largest at more than 665,000 square miles, while tiny Rhode Island covers only about 1,545.
Each round reveals one state's area and hides the other. Guess whether the hidden state is higher or lower, then see the official figure. A correct answer moves the hidden state into the anchor spot and extends your streak, while a single wrong pick ends the game. Map projections can fool you, since northern states often look bigger than they are, so think carefully about shape and latitude before you choose.
Source: US Census Bureau, State Area Measurements (2010), total area including water