The continents move at a rate of about 2-3 centimeters per year. This doesn't sound like a lot, but it really adds up over time. For example, in just 100 million years, the continents will have moved about 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles). This is about the distance from New York City to Los Angeles.

The movement of the continents is driven by convection currents in the Earth's mantle, the layer of the Earth that lies beneath the crust. The convection currents cause the tectonic plates, which are large pieces of the Earth's crust and upper mantle, to move around. The continents are attached to the tectonic plates, so they move along with them.

The movement of the continents has had a major impact on the Earth's history. For example, the collision of India and Asia created the Himalayas, the highest mountain range in the world. The opening of the Atlantic Ocean separated South America from Africa, creating the Atlantic Ocean Basin.

The movement of the continents will continue to change the Earth's landscape in the future. For example, the Pacific Ocean is slowly closing, and in about 250 million years, North and South America will collide, creating a supercontinent.