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The contiguous U.S.is made from the lower forty-eght states plus the District of Columbia. The continental U.S. contains the contiguous U.S. plus Alaska.

Since the District of Columbia is not a state, when you speak of the lower forty-eight, you are not including D.C.

Remember it this way. Alaska is part of the North America continent, hence it is part of the continental U.S. Generally, you don't say contiguous 48, just contiguous U.S.

See Sources and related links for more information.

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Q: What is the difference between continental US contiguous US and lower forty-eight states?
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What is the difference between the contiguous us and the continental us?

The Contiguous US is the lower 48 (all connected, situated between Canada and Mexico). The Continental US is the lower 48 and Alaska (US on the North American continent)


What does it mean if a state is outside contiguous or not part of the contiguous US?

The word contiguous means touching or connected. The contiguous US refers to the largest connected piece of American land. This happens to be the land situated between Mexico and Canada, which is also referred to as the Lower 48 because it contains forty-eight states. Therefore, the 48 states that are joined together are considered the contiguous United States, leaving Hawaii and Alaska as stand-alone states.The contiguous US is sometimes mistaken with the continental US. The continental US refers to the area of the US that is located on the continent of North America. This is just the contiguous US in addition to Alaska. Yet, Hawaii is not a part of the continental US either.It means it does not physically touch other states. Hawaii has an ocean between itself and other states. Alaska has another country- Canada- between it and another state.


What is the difference between maritime and continental air masses?

the continental air is found in high temperature regions. the maritime air is found in low temperature regions.


What is the difference between a continental jet stream and a polar jet stream?

A continental jet-stream travels parallel to the equator - a polar jet-stream travels in a north/south direction.


What is the difference between a convergent boundary between an oceanic plate and a continental plate and a convergent boundary between two continental plates?

A convergent boundary between two continental plates causes both plates to crumple to form fold mountains e.g. the HimalayasA convergent boundary between a continental and an oceanic causes one to rise above the other. Granite is less dense than basalt, so the continental plate rises above the oceanic plate. This also forms mountains, like the Andes.

Related questions

What is the difference between the continental U.S. and the contiguous 48 states?

The contiguous U.S.is made from the lower 48 states plus the District of Columbia. The continental U.S. contains the contiguous U.S. plus Alaska.Remember it this way. Alaska is part of the North America continent, hence it is part of the continental U.S. Generally, you don't say contiguous 48, just contiguous U.S.The lower 48 states do not include the District of Columbia, since it is not a state. So, there are three separate terms: continental U.S., contiguous U.S. and lower 48 states.See Sources and related links for additional information.


What is the difference between the contiguous us and the continental us?

The Contiguous US is the lower 48 (all connected, situated between Canada and Mexico). The Continental US is the lower 48 and Alaska (US on the North American continent)


Difference between continuous and contiguous?

contiguous is "separated in space" and continuous is "separated in time"


What is a big part of the continental US?

the largest part of the continental US is the contiguous US. This is the part of the United States situated between Canada and Mexico, the lower 48. (the continental US includes the contiguous US and Alaska).


What is the difference between alpine and continental glaciers?

what is the difference between alpine and continental glacires?


Difference between contiguous and non contiguous memory allocation?

In a contiguous memory allocation there is no overhead during execution of a program. In a non contiguous memory allocation address translation is performed during execution.


What is all 53 states called?

The word is contiguous. The 48 contiguous states are the states located on the North America continent that are between Canada and Mexico. Sometimes they are referred to incorrectly as the 'continental' United States. Continental is incorrect because Alaska is also on North America.


Difference between contiguous and non contiguous memory?

In contiguous allocation there is no overhead during execution of a program. In noncontiguous allocation address translation is performed during execution Contiguous memory allocates single area of memory Noncontigious memory allocates several memory areas - one memory are to each component of a process


What is the difference between contiguous and non contiguous memory allocation?

in contiguous allocation overhead during execution of a program.in non contiguous allocation address translation is performed during execution of a program..


What is the difference between the continental and oceanic?

The material they are made of.


What is the Major difference between the colonial empire of Russia and Britain and France?

Russia's empire was territorially contiguous.


What is the difference between continental congress and current congress?

they were poor