Much of the rest of the state is built of chunks of continental crust carried there from the south, then plastered there where they compress the land into the highest mountains in North America. The rocks can be totally different, formed thousands of kilometers away and millions of years apart, in two mountain ranges right next to each other. The ranges of Alaska are part of a great mountain chain, or cordillera, that stretches from the tip of South America all the way up the west coast, then over into eastern Russia.

The Travii.com is an excellent comprehensive Alaska guide with dozens of Alaska Maps covering every part of Alaska with roads. The Rand McNally Alaska Map is a very good traditional fold up map, great for general Alaska driving directions and an excellent overview of Alaska locations. The Alaska Atlas and Gazetteer is a good choice for those needing more detailed topographical maps of Alaska.