Continental drift

In 1912, Alfred Wegener proposed a theory to explain why the Earth resembled a vast jigsaw puzzle. He suggested that the continents were once conjoined, forming a supercontinent he termed Pangaea. Approximately 180 million years ago, this supercontinent began to “break up” owing to continental drift.

During the 20th Century, the theory of Plate Tectonics was further developed by scientists. This theory suggests that the Earth’s crust is divided into seven major plates and several smaller ones, all capable of slowly migrating across the Earth’s surface. They rest upon the ductile mantle, which supports their movement.

Evidence supporting continental drift includes:

• Identical types of fossilised flora and fauna are discovered in both South America and Africa;
• The western coast of South America aligns with the eastern coast of Africa like a jigsaw puzzle;
• Rock formations and mountain ranges in South America and Africa exhibit similarities;
• Comparable mineral deposits and natural resources, such as coal, are found along the eastern coast of Africa and the western coast of South America.