The Theory of Pangaea
By: Haley Kable
The Theory of Pangaea
According to the continental drift theory, Pangaea began to break up about 225-200 million years ago, eventually fragmenting into the continents as we know them today. The German meteorologist Alfred Wegener was the person who came up with the theory of Pangaea.
Evidence
Identical plant and animal fossils of the same age have been sound in rocks In Africa and South America. This strongly suggests that the two were once joined. For instance the fern Glossopteros can be dated at 270 million years ago and can be found in banded areas of South America, Africa, India and Australia.
Evidence
The types of rocks found on each continent today show similar strata and ages. Mountain ranges on the coast of West Africa disappear then suddenly reappear again on the coast of South America. The diagram below shows evidence.