Continental Drift

Continental drift, a cornerstone of geology and earth science, refers to the gradual movement of the Earth's continents across the globe over geological time. Proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912, this theory revolutionized our understanding of the Earth's dynamic nature. According to Wegener, continents were once part of a supercontinent called Pangaea, which began to break apart around 200 million years ago. This drift is driven by plate tectonics, the process where the Earth's lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath. Evidence supporting continental drift includes the fit of South America and Africa, fossil correlations, and matching geological formations across continents. This theory explains not only the distribution of continents but also the occurrence of earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the formation of mountain ranges, significantly enhancing our comprehension of Earth's geological processes.