1. The Theory of Continental
Drift

2. Continental Drift Theory
• Proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912
• 250 million years ago, all of the continents
were combined into one super-continent
called “Pangaea”
• The continents gradually drifted apart to
where they are today

3. Evidence to Support the Theory

4. “Puzzle Pieces”
• Continents look like
they could be part of
a giant jigsaw puzzle

5. Distribution of Fossils
• Plant and animal
fossils found on the
coastlines of different
continents

6. Sequence of Rocks
• Same rock patterns
found in South
America, India, Africa,
Antarctica and
Australia

7. Ancient Climates
• Tropical plant remains
(coal deposits) found
in Antarctica
• Glaciation in Africa,
South America, India,
and Australia during
the same time

8. Problems With The Theory
• No mechanism for movement of
continents
• Wind and currents could possibly move
fossils
• Theory was not accepted by scientists