The theory of continental drift

The theory of continental drift was proposed by Alfred Wegener in the 1910s.

It suggests that the continents have not always been in their present location, but have shifted over geological time.

According to this theory, all the continents were once united in a supercontinent called Pangaea, which existed some 300 million years ago.

Over time, the continents drifted apart and began to move, in a process known as continental drift.

Continental drift is caused by the movement of tectonic plates, which are large pieces of the Earth's lithosphere that move over the mantle. These plates can move in different directions, collide with each other or move apart, resulting in changes in the configuration of the continents.

As the plates move, the continents move apart or come together. For example, the continents of North America and Europe are slowly drifting apart today, while the continents of Africa and South America seem to fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

Continental drift has had a significant impact on the Earth's geology, affecting the formation of mountains, the distribution of the oceans and the evolution of life on the planet.