Alfred Wegener's continental drift theory, proposed in the early 20th century, suggested that the continents were once part of a single supercontinent called Pangaea. He theorized that this supercontinent gradually broke apart and drifted to their current positions over millions of years. The main ideas of the theory include:
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Fit of the Continents: Wegener noted the almost puzzle-like fit of the continents, particularly South America and Africa, as well as similarities in coastlines.
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Fossil Evidence: He pointed to similar fossil species found on widely separated continents, indicating that these landmasses were once connected.
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Geological Similarities: Wegener observed that some mountain ranges and geological formations were similar across continents, supporting the idea that these regions were once part of the same landmass.
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Paleoclimate Evidence: He cited evidence of past climates, such as glacial deposits found in now tropical regions, suggesting that these areas were once located closer to the poles.
Despite its groundbreaking nature, Wegener's theory faced skepticism due to the lack of a mechanism for how continents could drift. It wasn't until the development of plate tectonics in the mid-20th century that the processes driving continental movement were better understood and accepted.
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