The breakup of Pangaea
from the Tectonics page in Quake Basics

Scientists in Antarctica have found fossils of tropical plants near the frozen South Pole. How could that happen? This illustration shows the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea 225–200 million years ago, according to Wegener's theory of continental drift. This theory explains not only fossils in Antarctica, but also the current shape of the continents.

Can you see how the pieces of the earth fit together by looking at these maps? How was the Indian Subcontinent formed? How does this account for the large mountain range and high number of earthquakes in the area north of India?



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