There are several lines of evidence supporting the theory of continental drift, which was first proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912. Some of the key evidence includes:
- Fossil Evidence : The fossil record shows that similar types of plants and animals are found in rocks of similar age on different continents, suggesting that the continents were once joined
. For example, fossils of Mesosaurus, a type of dinosaur, have been found in rocks of the same age on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean
- Geological Fit : The matching of large-scale geological features on different continents, such as mountain ranges and rock strata, supports the idea that the continents were once connected
. For instance, the Appalachian Mountains of eastern North America are linked with the Scottish Highlands, and the rock strata of the Karroo system of South Africa matches correctly with the Santa and Brazil mountain ranges across the Atlantic Ocean
- Distribution of Ancient Climatic Zones : The locations of ancient climatic zones, as indicated by glacial indicators, also support the theory of continental drift
. If the continents were once united, the distribution of these zones would form continuous patterns across continental boundaries
- Identical Rocks and Mountain Ranges : Identical rocks, of the same type and age, are found on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, supporting the idea that the continents were once connected and have since moved apart
. Additionally, mountain ranges with the same rock types and structures are found on different continents
- Movement of Continents : The discovery of plate tectonics in the 1960s provided a convincing explanation for the movement of continents, which strengthened the evidence for continental drift
Despite the strong evidence, the theory of continental drift was not widely accepted during Wegener's time, partly because he did not have a convincing explanation for the cause of the drifting
. However, the evidence has since been reinforced by additional discoveries and the development of plate tectonics, which has become the prevailing theory for the movement of continents
