Pangea

Pangea is the name given to the supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras, about 335 to 175 million years ago. The concept of Pangea was proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912, based on the matching shapes of the coastlines of continents, as well as the distribution of fossils and geological formations.

Formation of Pangea

According to the theory of plate tectonics, Pangea formed through the movement and collision of tectonic plates. The process of Pangea's formation is believed to have occurred over hundreds of millions of years, as the Earth's lithosphere underwent continuous reconfiguration.

Evidence of Pangea

There are several lines of evidence supporting the existence of Pangea, including:

• Fossil evidence: Similar fossils of plants and animals are found on continents that were once part of Pangea.
• Geological evidence: Matching geological formations, such as mountain ranges and rock types, are found on different continents that were once connected.
• Biogeographical evidence: The distribution of living organisms on different continents can be explained by their historical connection in Pangea.
• Glacial evidence: Glacial deposits and evidence of past glaciation are found on multiple continents, suggesting they were once part of a single landmass.

Breakup of Pangea

Pangea began to break apart during the Mesozoic era, leading to the formation of the modern continents. The breakup of Pangea resulted in the opening of the Atlantic Ocean and the separation of the continents into their current positions.

Study Guide

Here are some key points to remember about Pangea:

1. Pangea was a supercontinent that existed about 335 to 175 million years ago.
2. It formed through the movement and collision of tectonic plates.
3. Evidence for Pangea includes fossil, geological, biogeographical, and glacial evidence.
4. Pangea began to break apart during the Mesozoic era, leading to the formation of the modern continents.

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