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What Was Pangea?

R. Kayne
R. Kayne

Approximately 345 million years ago (mya) during the Devonian and Carboniferous ages of the Paleozoic era, before dinosaurs roamed, before birds and before mammals, geological forces were driving Gondwana (Gondwanaland), Euramerica, and Siberia — the Earth's three major landmasses — together to form the single supercontinent known as angea.

A Greek word meaning "all lands," it was a C-shaped continental jigsaw that stretched from the North Pole to the South Pole. The Panthalassa Ocean surrounded it, while its C-shape cradled the Tethys Sea. Pangea's creation pushed up the great Appalachian Mountains, the African Atlas Mountains, and the Russian Urals. It also heralded in two of the most awesome events in history: it bore witness to the largest mass extinction of life on Earth, and oversaw the birth and reign of the dinosaurs.

The first turtles came to be in Pangea's Triassic period.
The first turtles came to be in Pangea's Triassic period.

Insects and reptiles were still new to the world at the time the continent formed. Lands were covered with large primitive trees and ferns, and conifers or needle-leaved trees saw their first light. Eventually, 280 mya near the end of the Permian period, mammal-like reptiles walked the primitive lands. In the blink of a geological eye, however, Earth would nearly become devoid of life.

Roughly 65 million years ago, the continents were crawling toward their current positions.
Roughly 65 million years ago, the continents were crawling toward their current positions.

Many theories attempt to explain what happened at the end of the Permian and beginning of the Triassic period, 252 mya when 95% of all marine and terrestrial species went extinct. Known as the Great Dying, or more formerly, the Permian-Triassic extinction event, this global phenomenon has puzzled and intrigued scientists. Explanations range from supernovas to the volcanic creation of the Siberian Trapps.

The creation of Pangea ushered in the age of dinosaurs.
The creation of Pangea ushered in the age of dinosaurs.

Twenty-five million years later, the stage was set for perhaps the most awesome phase history has ever known: the Mesozoic era. From 248 - 65 mya, it encompassed three periods: the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous. Though the dynamics that brought Pangea together were already forcing it apart, the continent would endure long enough to witness yet another major event: The Age of the Reptiles.

Pangea was covered with ferns.
Pangea was covered with ferns.

The Triassic period not only saw the first turtles and mammals, but it gave birth to dinosaurs, which would come to rule the world for the next 150 million years. These earliest dinosaurs were hardy, small creatures, but in the Jurassic period that followed as the first birds took to the air, dinosaurs diversified and evolved into the huge beasts that still inspire awe and wonder.

As the supercontinent started to slowly open in the late Triassic and early Jurassic, 200 mya, waterways and low continental seas separated Gondwana and Laurasia like gigantic islands, then split the lands up further. In the final period of the Mesozoic era — the Cretaceous — the first flowering plants opened their petals as the first primates opened their eyes. By the end of this period, 65 mya, the continents were crawling towards their present-day positions, and the reign of the mighty dinosaurs came to a sudden end with the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event.

Though Pangea was not the first supercontinent, it was certainly the most interesting in terms of evolutionary life. A modern understanding of plate tectonics and other geophysical data has made it possible for scientists to reconstruct (and name) previous supercontinents. Rondinia, formed some 1 billion years ago, is thought to have broken up about 750 mya. Columbia is even older, at 1.5 - 1.8 billion years. Perhaps more interesting is the projection of Pangea Ultima by Dr. Christopher Scotese. If the predictions hold true, it is a mere 250 million years in our future.

Regardless of what the future holds, however, Pangea will likely stand alone as a land that saw the worst mass extinction in known history, the birth of modern life forms, and the reign of the dinosaurs.

German meteorologist Alfred Wegener, through his proposed theory of continental drift, first introduced the idea of this supercontinent in 1912. His theory was rejected, lacking a viable explanation for how landmasses could move, but the aspect of a single continent did fit scientific data. Only after Wegener's death in 1930 did new evidence arise that led to an understanding of plate tectonics and acceptance of his theory.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Pangaea?

Pangaea was a supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras, assembling about 300 million years ago. It was a singular landmass encompassing most of the Earth's continental crust, allowing for the migration and evolution of species across diverse regions without the barriers of today's oceans.

When did Pangaea begin to break apart?

Pangaea began to break apart approximately 175 million years ago during the Jurassic period. This monumental geological shift, driven by plate tectonics, led to the formation of the continents as we know them today, shaping the Earth's biodiversity and climatic patterns over millions of years.

How was the existence of Pangaea discovered?

The existence of Pangaea was theorized by Alfred Wegener in 1912, based on the jigsaw-puzzle fit of the continents, fossil distribution, and geological similarities across continents. His theory of continental drift, though initially controversial, was later supported by evidence from plate tectonics and seafloor spreading.

What evidence supports the existence of Pangaea?

Evidence for Pangaea includes the complementary shapes of continents, similar rock formations and mountain ranges across continents, and the distribution of fossils. For instance, identical fossil plants and animals found on continents now separated by oceans suggest they were once connected. Paleoclimatic evidence, like glacial deposits, also supports the supercontinent's existence.

How did the breakup of Pangaea affect global biodiversity?

The breakup of Pangaea had a profound impact on global biodiversity. Isolation of landmasses led to speciation and the diverse evolutionary paths of flora and fauna. This process, known as vicariance, contributed to the distinct biogeographical patterns observed today, with many species evolving independently on different continents.

What would the world be like if Pangaea had never broken up?

If Pangaea had never broken up, the Earth would have one massive continent with extreme climatic variations from the center to the coasts. Biodiversity might be reduced, as species would face fewer geographic barriers to spread and intermingle. The global climate and ocean circulation patterns would be drastically different, potentially supporting a very different array of ecosystems.

Discussion Comments

anon313842

I believe it is a real theory.

anon307878

The days were shorter as compared to now when Pangaea existed?

anon306363

Pangea was when all the continents were put together, right?

closerfan12

@anon281174 -- Actually, I think that Pangaea, Pangæa, and Pangea are all accepted variations.

anon281174

I thought it was spelled Pangaea.

anon256076

I'm doing this school project and I need to find five animals and 5 plants that lived in the columbia/nuna/hudson time period. Does anyone know?

anon252970

Pangea could not have existed in the manner scientists currently suggest. The earth would wobble with all the water on one side and all the land on another. It may have existed, but it wouldn't have been fully exposed as claimed.

anon130156

Panacea, the earth is constantly changing. All the land masses have been in constant movement splitting in one area and connecting in another, so who's to say all the big land masses smashing back together again won't happen in a few hundred million years. If you look at google earth you can see where the americas were connected to the african continent. 250,000,000 A.D. Australia connected to south america?

anon80694

While the shape of the continents may seem to bring merit to this concept, I don't believe that plate tectonics supports this. Continental plates are separated due to fluidity of our core.

The idea of Pangea is more primitive, suggesting the continents themselves only hold some solidity and any plates submerged by oceans are malleable and have the ability to funnel between close continents.

I believe that if there was once one major continent on our planet, it would have been made up of one land mass in particular, extended by what are now submerged plates or what we recognize as the ocean floors. Other continents would have been submerged at the time to compensate, later to emerge centuries later.

For instance, North America, once an ocean bottom would emerge, creating a remaining sea in it's center. Through years of evaporation, the salt water dissipated until all the water was gone leaving masses of salt deposits at what we now know as Salt Lake City.

anon30961

The evidence for Pangea is circumstantial but compelling. No one was alive back then to record or map tectonic movement, so there is not absolute proof in that sense. However, geological, ecological and biological evidence points directly to a land mass that was once united. Pangea is a widely accepted theory that fits the scientific evidence.

anon30849

I have a school project on am trying to find out about Pangea. My biggest obstacle is finding out if Pangea a real theory or not. In your opinion, is Pangea a false theory or a real one?

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    • The first turtles came to be in Pangea's Triassic period.
      The first turtles came to be in Pangea's Triassic period.
    • Roughly 65 million years ago, the continents were crawling toward their current positions.
      By: designua
      Roughly 65 million years ago, the continents were crawling toward their current positions.
    • The creation of Pangea ushered in the age of dinosaurs.
      By: Kabacchi
      The creation of Pangea ushered in the age of dinosaurs.
    • Pangea was covered with ferns.
      By: vencav
      Pangea was covered with ferns.