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The shapes of the continents gives us an insight into earths past and history.When tried to arrange they seem to fit in like a "Jigsaw puzzle".This tells us that there was once a time,aeons of years ago when all continents were together as one "Super continent",but were separated by "Drifting",reshaped and sculptured by agents of "Denudation".

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3d ago

The shape of the continents provides evidence of past geological processes, such as plate tectonics and movements of the Earth's crust. It helps us understand how the continents have shifted over millions of years and how they continue to change. The arrangement of the continents also influences climate patterns, ocean currents, and the distribution of plant and animal species.

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Q: What does the shape of the continents tell us?
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What do the shape of the continents tell us about their past?

The shape of the continents is evidence of the movements of tectonic plates over millions of years. The continents were once part of a supercontinent called Pangaea, which began to break apart about 200 million years ago. This process, known as plate tectonics, explains why the continents fit together like a puzzle and why their shapes are complementary.


What do the shape of the continents now tell us about their past?

The current shape and position of continents provide evidence for the theory of plate tectonics, which suggests that continents were once part of a supercontinent called Pangaea that has since drifted apart. This movement helps explain the similarities between the geology and fossils of now widely separated continents, as well as the presence of matching coastlines and mountain ranges.


What do the shapes of the continents now tell us about their part?

The shapes of the continents tell us that they were once connected as a single landmass called Pangaea over 200 million years ago. The movement of tectonic plates caused the continents to drift apart to their current positions, creating the geography we see today. This process is known as plate tectonics.


How do continents gain their shape?

Continents gain their shape through a combination of tectonic plate movements and erosion processes. Plate tectonics cause continents to drift and collide, leading to the formation of mountain ranges, valleys, and other landforms that shape the continents. Erosion by water, wind, and ice further shapes the continents over time by wearing down and reshaping the land.


What do the shapes of the continents now tell us about the past?

The shapes of the continents provide evidence of past tectonic activity, such as the splitting of continents through plate tectonics. For example, the fit of the continents' coastlines, like the matching shapes of South America and Africa, suggests they were once joined. This helps us understand the movement of Earth's plates over millions of years.

Related questions

What does the shape of a cell tell us?

its job


What is the importance of a globe?

It helps us to know the shape of the earth and it also helps us in finding the countries ,continents or oceans ,etc !


What does the size and shape of a cell tell us?

The shape of a cell may give us a clue about the function of the cell.


Which suggested to early cartographers that the continents were once joined?

The shape of the continents.


What features of the continents best suggests that they were joined?

The shape of the continents and the way they could fit together best suggests the formation of supercontinents in the past. Also, the distribution of biodiversity gives us information on which continents were joined and at what point they diverged.


What evidence is there that the continents were joined together at one time?

Evidence supporting the concept of continental drift and the past existence of a supercontinent includes the fit of the continents' coastlines, similarities in rock formations and fossils across currently separated continents, matching mountain ranges on different continents, and the distribution of certain ancient climate-sensitive rock formations like glacial deposits. Additionally, paleomagnetic data from rocks indicate the past movement of continents.


What two continents are similar is shape?

Australia and Antarctica are the two continents that are similar to islands.


Why would the present shape of the continents not fit perfectly into the shape of a supercontinents?

The present shape of the continents does not fit perfectly into the shape of a supercontinent because the Earth's tectonic plates are constantly moving. These movements are driven by processes like plate tectonics and convection currents in the mantle, causing the continents to drift apart, collide, and rearrange over millions of years. This results in the continents having different shapes and positions compared to when they were part of a single supercontinent like Pangaea.


What discipline records the shape and location of continents?

What scientific disciplines records the shapes and locations of continents


What do the glossopteris fossils tell us about early positions of the continents?

That they must have been joined up in the past because the same fossils could not exist on the continents given their current position.


What do the glossopteris fossils tell us about the early positions of the continents?

That they must have been joined up in the past because the same fossils could not exist on the continents given their current position.


Would you use a map or globe to see a continents exact shape?

because it helps you see the shape of the continents. Globe, The curved shape is more like the real world so it is more exact.