Formation and Existence

Pangaea, derived from the Greek words 'pan' (all) and 'Gaia' (Earth), was a supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras. It assembled approximately 335 million years ago during the Carboniferous period and began to break apart around 200 million years ago in the early Jurassic period. This massive landmass encompassed nearly all of Earth's landmasses and was surrounded by the vast Panthalassa Ocean. The concept of Pangaea was first proposed by German meteorologist Alfred Wegener in 1912 as part of his theory of continental drift. (britannica.com)

Geological Evidence

The existence of Pangaea is supported by several lines of geological evidence:

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  Continental Fit: The coastlines of continents such as South America and Africa appear to fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, suggesting they were once joined. (britannica.com)

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  Fossil Correlation: Identical fossil species have been found on continents now separated by oceans. For example, fossils of the freshwater reptile Mesosaurus have been discovered in both Brazil and West Africa, indicating these regions were once connected. (en.wikipedia.org)

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  Geological Structures: Mountain ranges and rock formations continue across continents. The Appalachian Mountains in North America align with the Caledonian Mountains in Scotland and Scandinavia, suggesting they were part of the same mountain chain before the continents drifted apart. (en.wikipedia.org)

Climate and Environment

Pangaea's vast size led to significant climatic variations:

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  Interior Climate: The central regions of Pangaea were arid, with vast deserts due to their distance from oceanic moisture sources. (worldatlas.com)

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  Coastal Climate: Coastal areas experienced more humid conditions with seasonal rainfall, influenced by the surrounding Panthalassa Ocean and the Tethys Sea. (worldatlas.com)

Breakup and Legacy

The breakup of Pangaea occurred in multiple stages:

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   Initial Rifting: Around 200 million years ago, rifting began, leading to the formation of the Atlantic Ocean as North America and Africa started to separate. (en.wikipedia.org)

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   Separation of Gondwana: The southern supercontinent Gondwana, which included present-day South America, Africa, Antarctica, Australia, and India, began to fragment during the Early Cretaceous period. (en.wikipedia.org)

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   Formation of Modern Continents: Over millions of years, these landmasses drifted to their current positions, shaping the continents as we know them today. (en.wikipedia.org)

The concept of Pangaea has been instrumental in understanding plate tectonics and the dynamic nature of Earth's surface. It explains the distribution of fossils, geological formations, and the historical climate patterns observed across different continents.