Continental drift,200 million years ago,showing the Earth at the time of the break-up of the ancient supercontinent of Pangea. This supercontinent formed around 300 million years ago. The Earth's continents move over the surface of the Earth,driven by movements of the fluid mantle below the crust. Several such supercontinents have formed in the 4.5-billion-year history of the Earth,and it is thought that a future supercontinent,called Pangea Ultima,will form in around 250 million years time. This map shows extra land that was present when sea levels were low. For the complete set of illustrations of Pangea and Pangea Ultima,from 200 million years ago to 250 million years in the future,with and without labels,and with versions with extra land,see images C046/9220 to C046/9249. For this map with labels,see image C046/9235. |