Alaska

The continental United States includes Alaska.

In Alaska context, lower forty-eight or lower 48 may be used. Do not hyphenate lower 48 as an adjective. To distinguish the 48 states from the 49 or 50, use contiguous or conterminous.

Note this distinction:

            Alaska Native means one of the Native peoples, i.e., Indian, Aleut, Eskimo.

            A native Alaskan means any person born in Alaska.

The preferred adjective is Alaska:

            The Alaska seacoast is extremely rugged.

            The Alaska economy is stagnant.