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