J I N G G

Geology of Alaska

Alaska lies on an active convergent boundary between Pacific plate and North American plate with accreted terranes where fold mountains and volcanoes dominate glacial and periglacial environments. 

The physical geography of Alaska is dominated by the huge mountain chains which are a northern extension of the great Western Cordillera, an orogenic belt formed in Mesozoic times including the Rockies of the USA and British Columbia. 

The long Aleutian Island chain sweeping to the west is a volcanic arc along the subduction zone.