2. In 1912, Alfred Wegener

3. First proposed that 200 million years ago the Earth only had one giant continent. First proposed that 200 million years ago the Earth only had one giant continent.

5. Wegener, believed today’s continents broke apart and drifted into their current locations.

7. Wegener supported his theory in many ways Wegener supported his theory in many ways.

8. First he used the fit of the continents.

9. The bulge of Africa fits the shape of the coast of No. America while Brazil fits along the coast of Africa.

10. He also used the size of the Himalayan’s. Which would indicate a huge collision. Which he believes was caused by the collision between India and Asia.

13. He also discovered identical fossil species along the coastal parts of Africa and South America.

15. He knew that it was physically impossible for most of these organisms to have traveled or have been transported across the vast ocean.

16. Also broad belts of rocks in Africa and South America are the same type. These broad belts match when the end of the continents are joined.

18. Wegener was also aware that a continental ice sheet covered parts of South America, southern Africa, India and southern Australia about 300 million years ago.

20. Glacial striations on rocks show that glaciers move from Africa to South America.

21. This could only happen if the Atlantic ocean was missing and the continents were joined.

22. Wegener’s Continental Drift theory was not readily accepted by the science community of his day.