Pangaea was a supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras, from about 335 to 175 million years ago. It was formed by the collision of several smaller continents, including Laurasia and Gondwana.

The evidence for Pangaea

There is a great deal of evidence to support the existence of Pangaea, including:

* The distribution of fossils: Fossils of the same plants and animals have been found on different continents that are now separated by oceans. This suggests that these continents were once connected.

* The fit of the continents: The continents of the Earth can be fitted together like pieces of a puzzle, which suggests that they were once part of a larger landmass.

* The age of the ocean basins: The ocean basins are relatively young, compared to the continents. This suggests that the continents were once connected and that the ocean basins were formed as the continents drifted apart.

The breakup of Pangaea

Pangaea began to break up about 200 million years ago. The breakup was caused by the movement of the Earth's tectonic plates. As the plates moved, they collided with each other, causing the landmasses to split apart.

The breakup of Pangaea had a profound impact on the Earth's climate and geography. The formation of the ocean basins caused the Earth's climate to become more varied. The continents also drifted to their current positions, which created the world's oceans and mountains.

The legacy of Pangaea

The existence of Pangaea has had a lasting impact on the Earth. The distribution of plants and animals, the formation of the ocean basins, and the shape of the continents are all legacies of Pangaea.