becuase they can
This question is based off of a theory of Pangea. If the theory were fact, then it could be due to the erosion of the beaches and island. Much like the colorado river and the grand canyon, constant water pushing and pulling away from a land mass changes it's shape.
One reason is because the Coastlines of land masses change over time. If you map the edges of the continental shelves, the fit is much better.
Continents have undergone changes such as plate tectonics, leading to their movement across the Earth's surface over millions of years. These movements have resulted in the formation and breakup of supercontinents, the opening and closing of oceans, and the creation of mountain ranges and other geological features. Additionally, factors like climate change and sea level fluctuations have also influenced the shape and position of continents over time.
As the continents moved further apart, natural erosion of the Coastlines removed and added to the basic shape over billions of years. Much of the evidence relates to the similarities of plants and animals found on now separate continents. Geological evidence points to Antarctica was once further north and had a tropical climate!
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.
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.
This question is based off of a theory of Pangea. If the theory were fact, then it could be due to the erosion of the beaches and island. Much like the colorado river and the grand canyon, constant water pushing and pulling away from a land mass changes it's shape.
They would fit roughly together but not perfectly due to years and years of erosion. As evident as Africa and So. America are that they were once joined. Erosion does not work. Even with that they will not fit. Try it with cut outs. But shrink the size of the earths sphere to about 1/2 its size today and they fit perfect.
As the continents moved further apart, natural erosion of the Coastlines removed and added to the basic shape over billions of years. Much of the evidence relates to the similarities of plants and animals found on now separate continents. Geological evidence points to Antarctica was once further north and had a tropical climate!
As the continents moved further apart, natural erosion of the coastlines removed and added to the basic shape over billions of years. Much of the evidence relates to the similarities of plants and animals found on now separate continents. Geological evidence points to Antarctica was once further north and had a tropical climate!
As the continents moved further apart, natural erosion of the Coastlines removed and added to the basic shape over billions of years. Much of the evidence relates to the similarities of plants and animals found on now separate continents. Geological evidence points to Antarctica was once further north and had a tropical climate!
One reason is because the Coastlines of land masses change over time. If you map the edges of the continental shelves, the fit is much better.
One piece of evidence that indicates the continents were once connected is the shape of the continents. Many of the continents look as if they fit together like a puzzle.
Continents have undergone changes such as plate tectonics, leading to their movement across the Earth's surface over millions of years. These movements have resulted in the formation and breakup of supercontinents, the opening and closing of oceans, and the creation of mountain ranges and other geological features. Additionally, factors like climate change and sea level fluctuations have also influenced the shape and position of continents over time.
Sea level changes, erosion, sedimentation, and uplift and subsidence of the surface can change the shapes of costlines. It has been dound that the present day continental shelves acutally fit together better than the coastlines. This makes sense, as when Pangaea rifted apart, the land immediately around the rifts would have dropped below sea level.
As the continents moved further apart, natural erosion of the Coastlines removed and added to the basic shape over billions of years. Much of the evidence relates to the similarities of plants and animals found on now separate continents. Geological evidence points to Antarctica was once further north and had a tropical climate!
Yes, it is possible for continents to drift together and potentially form a new supercontinent in the future. This process is known as continental drift, and throughout Earth's history, supercontinents like Pangaea have formed and broken apart. The movement of tectonic plates continues to shape the Earth's surface over millions of years.