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Observations of a map of the continents hinted that the continents once fitted together. Later, he would discover fossil evidence to support his theory. But alas, he was unable to explain the mechanism by which the continents could move, and was soundly thrashed by geologists of his time. The discoveries leading to the science of plate tectonics were not made until the mid twentieth century.

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because he believed that the continents could have been connected

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Q: What is one of the reasons Alfred Wegener believed Earth's continents once formed a single massive supercontinent?
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How did ancient geography divide the world?

Pangaea or Pangea (derived from Παγγαία, Greek meaning 'all earth') is the supercontinent that existed during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras about 250 million years ago, before each of the component continents were separated into their current configuration.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Pangaea_continents.pngPangaea is believed to have been a C-shaped landmass that spread across the equator. The body of water that was believed to have been enclosed within the resulting crescent has been named the Tethys Sea. Owing to Pangaea's massive size, the inland regions appear to have been very dry, due to the lack of precipitation. The large supercontinent would potentially have allowed terrestrial animals to migrate freely all the way from the South Pole to the North Pole. The vast ocean that once surrounded the supercontinent of Pangaea has been named Panthalassa. Pangaea is believed to have broken up about 180 million years ago (mya) in the Jurassic Period, first into two supercontinents (Gondwana to the south and Laurasia to the north), thereafter into the continents as we understand them today.


What were the continents called when they were all together?

When the continents were all together, they were called supercontinents. The Earth is thought to be 4.6 billion years old. The oldest theorized supercontinent is Vaalbara, which may have formed 3.3 billion to 3.6 billion years ago. The oldest known supercontinent is Ur, which formed 3 billion years ago. The Kenorland supercontinent formed 2.7 billion years ago. Columbia formed 1.8 billion to 1.5 billion years ago. Rodinia formed 1.1 billion to 750 million years ago. Pannotia, which also is called the Vendian supercontinent, formed 600 million to 540 million years ago. Pangaea formed 500 million to 200 million years ago. Laurasia formed 200 million years ago. And the last supercontinent was Gondwana. But that title may be held only temporarily by Gondwana. For the future may hold possibilities of one or two supercontinents within the next millions of years.


What did people believe in that was in the center of the earth?

Pythagoras believed that there was a massive fireball in the center of the Earth


What makes continents drift?

what makes continents drift the land used to be a big long peace of land. then we started having these big earthquake and natural storms and started breaking the earths crust and finally broke threw and made massive peaces of land drift away and the other land locked in and that's how the continents drifted called (continental drift)


What evidence supported continental drift?

the same rock types on the edges of different continents and the reverse magnetic polarity show seafloor spreading which shows that the continents are moving. the Coastlines of South Africa and south ameria seem to match and fit together like a jigsaw and so do many other countries which gives the impression that all the continents were onced joined together as a massive continent called Pangaea

Related questions

What is one of the reasons Alfred Wegener believed Earth's continents once formed a single massive supercontinent?

Alfred Wegener, a German meteorologist, believed that Earth's continents once formed a single massive supercontinent called Pangaea. One of the main reasons he believed this was the apparent "fit" of the coastlines of South America and Africa, which he noticed while studying maps and charts. He also noted that certain fossils and rock formations appeared to match across these continents, even though they were now separated by vast oceans. Wegener hypothesized that the continents had once been joined together, but had since drifted apart over time. This idea was later supported by the theory of plate tectonics, which explained how the Earth's crust is composed of a series of large plates that move slowly over time.


How did the supercontinent break up?

because of a massive earthquake


What language is pangea?

Pangea is not a language. Pangea is a massive supercontinent.


How did ancient geography divide the world?

Pangaea or Pangea (derived from Παγγαία, Greek meaning 'all earth') is the supercontinent that existed during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras about 250 million years ago, before each of the component continents were separated into their current configuration.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Pangaea_continents.pngPangaea is believed to have been a C-shaped landmass that spread across the equator. The body of water that was believed to have been enclosed within the resulting crescent has been named the Tethys Sea. Owing to Pangaea's massive size, the inland regions appear to have been very dry, due to the lack of precipitation. The large supercontinent would potentially have allowed terrestrial animals to migrate freely all the way from the South Pole to the North Pole. The vast ocean that once surrounded the supercontinent of Pangaea has been named Panthalassa. Pangaea is believed to have broken up about 180 million years ago (mya) in the Jurassic Period, first into two supercontinents (Gondwana to the south and Laurasia to the north), thereafter into the continents as we understand them today.


What theory did Alfred wegener proposed first?

Alfred wegeners theory of continental driftIs that once all the continents were all join as one massive land mass. (and split apart.)


What creates fertile silt in most of the continents?

Waterfalls Actually it is massive rivers


What is a Karkadann?

The Karkadann was believed to me a massive elephant sized unicorn.


What is a massive land area?

A massive land area is called a continent. The continents are North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Antarctica, and Australia.


What is a massive land area called?

A massive land area is called a continent. The continents are North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Antarctica, and Australia.


What were the continents called when they were all together?

When the continents were all together, they were called supercontinents. The Earth is thought to be 4.6 billion years old. The oldest theorized supercontinent is Vaalbara, which may have formed 3.3 billion to 3.6 billion years ago. The oldest known supercontinent is Ur, which formed 3 billion years ago. The Kenorland supercontinent formed 2.7 billion years ago. Columbia formed 1.8 billion to 1.5 billion years ago. Rodinia formed 1.1 billion to 750 million years ago. Pannotia, which also is called the Vendian supercontinent, formed 600 million to 540 million years ago. Pangaea formed 500 million to 200 million years ago. Laurasia formed 200 million years ago. And the last supercontinent was Gondwana. But that title may be held only temporarily by Gondwana. For the future may hold possibilities of one or two supercontinents within the next millions of years.


What was the massive land mass called consisting of all the continents before they moved to their present location?

pangaea


What did the aztec sun god require on a massive scale?

It was believed that the aztec sun god was appeased only by human sacrifice on a massive scale.