Continental Drift

Look at a map of the world. Notice how South America and Africa look like puzzle pieces that could fit together? That is because they were once joined! About 200 million years ago, all the continents were connected in one giant landmass called Pangaea. Over millions of years, they slowly drifted apart to where they are now.

Evidence for Continental Drift

Scientists found many clues that the continents were once joined. The same types of fossils have been found in South America and Africa. Rock layers on different continents match up. The coastlines of continents fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Signs of ancient glaciers have been found in places that are now tropical.

Alfred Wegener's Idea

In 1912, a German scientist named Alfred Wegener proposed the idea of continental drift. At first, other scientists did not believe him because he could not explain what made the continents move. It was not until the 1960s that scientists discovered plate tectonics and realized Wegener was right all along.

Fun Facts

• About 200 million years ago, you could have walked from North America to Africa because they were connected.
• The continents are still moving today at about the speed your fingernails grow.
• In about 250 million years, the continents may come back together to form a new supercontinent.

Did You Know?

Fossils of the same land animal called Mesosaurus have been found in both Brazil and South Africa. Since this animal could not swim across the ocean, it proves these continents were once connected. The same types of ferns have been found on multiple continents too!