The Journey of Continental Drift: When Did the Continents Break Up from Pangea?

When Did the Continents Separate from Each Other?

The last time the continents separated was approximately 200 million years ago, when the supercontinent Pangea began to break up. This breakup was a slow process that continued throughout the Mesozoic Era and was essentially complete by the end of the Cretaceous Period.

230 to 200 million years ago, Pangea started to fragment into smaller landmasses. The separation of these continents on individual tectonic plates is a process that continues to this day, meaning that in a sense, the continents are still breaking up.

About 200 Million Years Ago

Let's consider the timing: Pangea began to split about 195 million years ago and was more or less broken into several larger sections by about 145 million years ago. These continental fragments have been moving apart ever since and are still moving apart from one another. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is the ongoing center of these movements, causing the Pacific Ocean Basin to close as the continents drift further apart. This process will continue for another 150 million years before Asia and North America collide, potentially forming a new supercontinent called 'Norasia.'

At the end of the Triassic period, approximately 200 million years ago, science theories suggest the breakup of Pangea initiated and today has formed the current configuration of continents.

Three Supercontinents in the Past 1.1 Billion Years

Over the last 1.1 billion years, there have been three major supercontinents:

Pan-African supercontinent: Formed around 550 million years ago and started to break apart 400 million years ago. Pangaea: The most recent supercontinent, which formed 335 million years ago and began splitting apart about 200 million years ago. Pangaea Ultima: A proposed future supercontinent that is forecasted to form in about 50 million years, when the continents start to converge and new mountain ranges will form.

The breakup of Pangea is a fascinating and ongoing process that has been estimated to initiate 200 million years ago and has reached its current configuration. Despite the pace of change occurring over vast geological timescales, this process is critical to understanding the evolution of our planet and its biosphere.