For example, the mountain ranges of the Appalachian Mountains in North America are strikingly similar in age and rock type to the Caledonian Mountains in Scotland and Scandinavia. These mountains are separated by the Atlantic Ocean, but their similarities suggest they were once connected.
Furthermore, fossil evidence provides strong support. Mesosaurus, a freshwater reptile, was found in both South America and Africa. It's impossible for this animal to swim across the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. The presence of these fossils on separate continents suggests that they were once part of a larger landmass.
Wegener also used the puzzle-like fit of the continents as evidence. The shapes of the continents, particularly the eastern coast of South America and the western coast of Africa, fit together remarkably well. This fit is even more apparent when looking at the continental shelf, which extends below sea level.
These examples of matching geological formations, fossils, and the puzzle-like fit of continents were crucial pieces of evidence that supported Wegener's theory of continental drift.
