1. The Theory of Continental Drift

2. Continental Drift Theory
Proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912
250 million years ago, all of the continents were combined into one super-continent called “Pangaea”
The continents gradually drifted apart to where they are today

3. Evidence to Support the Theory

4. “Puzzle Pieces”
Continents look like they could be part of a giant jigsaw puzzle

5. Distribution of Fossils
Plant and animal fossils found on the coastlines of different continents

6. Sequence of Rocks
Same rock patterns found in South America, India, Africa, Antarctica and Australia

7. Ancient Climates
Tropical plant remains (coal deposits) found in Antarctica
Glaciation in Africa, South America, India, and Australia during the same time

8. Problems With The Theory
No mechanism for movement of continents
Wind and currents could possibly move fossils
Theory was not accepted by scientists

9. Your job is to …..
Using the evidence presented by the ‘continental drift’ theory, you will reconstruct what you think Pangea looked like more than 200 million years ago.
Puzzle piece key:
F = fossils
M =mountain belts
G = glacial deposits

11. Pangaea Questions
Explain how mountain chains provided evidence for the existence of Pangea.
Explain how fossils provided evidence for the existence of Pangea.
Explain why India has evidence of glaciers that are more than 240 million years old even though it is located near the equator.

12. 1= North America 2= Eurasia 3=South America 4=Africa 5=India 6=Antarctica 7=Australia