Continental Drift Evidence

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What is continental drift?

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Continental drift is the gradual movement of continents across the earth's surface through geological time.

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Alfred Wegener (1880–1930)

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Proposed the theory of Continental Drift.

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Theory of Continental Drift

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The idea that Earth’s continents moved apart from a single large continent.

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Evidence for Continental Drift

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Includes fossils of the same species on separate continents, continents fitting like puzzle pieces, glacier deposits, and matching landforms on separate continents.

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When did Pangaea begin to break up?

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Began to break apart about 175 million years ago

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Continental Movement

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The Earth’s continents have been continually breaking apart and coming together

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Palm Tree Fossils

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Found in Alaska, indicating a different past climate.

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Fossil Evidence Importance

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Shows that continents were once joined and have since drifted apart.

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Glossopteris plant and Climate

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Found in regions that are now cold, indicating past climate differences.

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South America and Africa

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These continents fit together at their continental shelves, supporting the theory of continental drift.