Which statements about Pangaea are true according to widely accepted theories? Check all that apply.

Question

Pangaea existed two hundred thousand years ago.
The landmass of Pangaea split into separate continents over time.
Pangaea was discovered by Christopher Columbus.
Pangaea was surrounded by the waters of the ocean.
The coastline of Pangaea stayed consistent over time.

Answer 1

The following statements about Pangaea are true according to widely accepted theories:

1. The landmass of Pangaea split into separate continents over time.
2. Pangaea was surrounded by the waters of the ocean.

The other statements are not accurate:

• Pangaea existed approximately 335 million years ago and began to break apart around 175 million years ago, so the statement about it existing two hundred thousand years ago is false.
• Pangaea was not discovered by Christopher Columbus; instead, the theory of continental drift and the concept of Pangaea were developed in the early 20th century, notably by scientists like Alfred Wegener.
• The coastline of Pangaea did not stay consistent over time as it eventually fragmented into the continents we recognize today, which have continued to shift due to tectonic activity.