Drifting Continents Did Pangea Exist?

The Theory of Continental Drift In 1912, a German scientist named Alfred Wegener proposed that at one time the continents were joined together as one landmass, but over time they have drifted slowly to their current location. His hypothesis is called the continental drift theory.

Pangaea Greek for "all earth." “Supercontinent” that existed over 250 million years ago. The name was given to all of the present continents that were once joined in a single landmass.

Wegener’s first piece of evidence was that he noticed that the continents fit together like a puzzle.

Evidence from Landforms Mountain ranges in South Africa line up with mountain ranges in Argentina, South America.

Evidence from Landforms European coal fields (rock similarities) match up with similar fields in North America

Evidence from Fossils A fossil is any trace of an ancient organism that has been preserved in rock. Glossopteris fossils have been found in rocks in Africa, South America, Australia, India, and Antarctica. Fossils of the animals Mesosaurus and Lystrosaurus have been found in places now separated by oceans.

Evidence from Climate Fossils of tropical plants have been found too far south to have survived. Glacier markings on rocks showed evidence that the continents were further South where it was colder and glaciers could survive.

Rejection!! Even with the evidence, most scientists rejected Alfred Wegener’s theory for about a half a century, because he couldn’t explain how the continents drifted apart.