- Pangaea was a supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras, approximately 335 to 175 million years ago.
- Its name, derived from the Greek words pan (“all”) and gaia (“Earth”), reflects its nature as a vast landmass that unified nearly all of Earth’s continental crust.
- The formation of Pangaea was the result of millions of years of tectonic plate movements, as earlier continents such as Gondwana, Laurasia, and smaller terranes gradually collided and fused together. This supercontinent stretched across much of the globe, creating a single continuous expanse of land surrounded by a vast ocean known as Panthalassa.
- Geologically, Pangaea played a critical role in shaping Earth’s history. Its immense size influenced global climate patterns, ocean circulation, and biodiversity. The interior of Pangaea was so far removed from the moderating effects of the ocean that it experienced extreme climates, ranging from vast arid deserts to seasonal monsoons. This contrasted with the coastal regions, which enjoyed more temperate environments. The continental unification also reduced the number of shallow marine habitats, which had previously been major centers of biodiversity, and this shift contributed to evolutionary pressures on marine and terrestrial organisms alike.
- Biologically, Pangaea provided both opportunities and challenges for life. The supercontinent allowed animals and plants to disperse widely across connected landmasses, facilitating the spread of early reptiles, amphibians, and primitive mammal-like species. At the same time, the concentration of species into a single landmass made ecosystems more vulnerable to widespread extinctions. This vulnerability became especially clear during the Permian-Triassic extinction event, about 252 million years ago, when over 90% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrate species vanished. The configuration of Pangaea likely amplified this mass extinction by disrupting ecosystems and intensifying harsh climate conditions.
- The breakup of Pangaea began in the early Jurassic period, around 175 million years ago, driven by tectonic forces beneath Earth’s crust. Rifting and seafloor spreading gradually split the supercontinent into two major landmasses: Laurasia in the north and Gondwana in the south. Over tens of millions of years, these landmasses further fragmented into the continents we recognize today. The legacy of Pangaea is still visible in the complementary shapes of continental coastlines, such as the striking fit between the eastern coast of South America and the western coast of Africa, as well as in the fossil record, where identical species of plants and animals appear across continents now separated by oceans.
- In essence, Pangaea represents one of the most dramatic episodes in Earth’s geological and biological history. It illustrates the dynamic nature of plate tectonics, the interconnectedness of life and environment, and the profound ways in which continental drift has shaped the evolution of life on Earth. Its story continues to inform modern geology, paleontology, and climatology, offering insight into both the planet’s past and the forces still at work beneath our feet.
