The continents were once joined together as a single supercontinent, called Pangaea, and have since drifted apart.
This hypothesis was supported by a number of pieces of evidence, including:
* The fit of the continents: The coastlines of South America and Africa fit together like puzzle pieces.
* Fossil evidence: Identical fossils of plants and animals have been found on continents that are now separated by vast oceans.
* Geological evidence: The same rock formations and mountain ranges can be found on continents that are now separated by oceans.
* Paleoclimatic evidence: Evidence of ancient glaciers and tropical climates can be found on continents that are now in very different climates.
While Wegener's hypothesis was initially met with skepticism, it eventually gained widespread acceptance as more evidence was discovered. The discovery of plate tectonics, which describes the movement of the Earth's lithosphere, provided a mechanism for continental drift and helped to solidify the hypothesis into a widely accepted scientific theory.
