Continental Drift

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What is Continental Drift Theory?

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A scientific theory that explains how continents have moved over geological time, suggesting they were once joined together in a supercontinent called Pangea.

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Who proposed the Continental Drift Theory?

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Alfred Wegener proposed the Continental Drift Theory in 1912.

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What evidence supports Continental Drift Theory?

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Evidence includes similar mountain ranges on different continents, fossil similarities, and the fit of continental shapes.

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What are Gondwanaland and Laurasia?

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They are the two landmasses that formed after Pangea broke apart 180 million years ago.

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Which continents fit together like a puzzle?

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South America and Africa fit together most noticeably.

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What is Pangea?

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Pangea was a supercontinent that existed around 335 million years ago and began to break apart about 180 million years ago.

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What role do fossils play in supporting Continental Drift Theory?

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Fossils of the same species found on different continents suggest that these continents were once connected.

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What is the significance of Alfred Wegener's work?

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Wegener's work laid the foundation for modern plate tectonics and changed our understanding of Earth's geological history.

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What is the concept of plate tectonics?

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Plate tectonics is the scientific theory that describes the large-scale movement of Earth's lithosphere, which is divided into tectonic plates.

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How do ocean currents relate to Continental Drift?

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Ocean currents can be influenced by the positions of continents, but they are not direct evidence of Continental Drift.