Download Pangaea and Continental Drift

Pangaea and Continental Drift
• In 1915, Alfred Wegner, came up with the theory
of “Continental Drift.” He believed that Earth’s
crust drifted slowly on top of a liquid core.
• He hypothesized that Earth was one super
continent that he called Pangaea.
• Pangaea means “All Land”
• Wegner also proposed that Pangaea first broke
into 2 large land masses, Laurasia and
Gondwanaland.
• These two continents would continue to be
broken apart over time.
• Fossil evidence also supports this theory.
Tropical plants have been found in coal
deposits in Antarctica.
• Today’s theory of Plate Tectonics is a more
complete picture that includes evidence that the
continents have moved and are still moving
Evidence for Continental Drift
• Go to p. 277-278 in book. Write the different
clues for evidence of Pangaea.
• Fossil clues
• Widespread plant clues
• Climate clues
• Rock clues