2
Continental Drift Theory
Continental Drift Theory (CDT):
About the theory: CDT was propounded by Alfred Wegener in 1912. According to this theory, there was a
supercontinent known as Pangaea which was surrounded by a large ocean called Panthalassa. Around 225
million years ago, Pangaea broke into separate parts.
Various stages of the Continental Drift Theory:
Stage I: Wegener proposed that around 225 million years ago, Earth must have once been a single
supercontinent/ mega landmass which he termed as Pangaea (land masses connected with each other:
Pan= Entire and Gaea= Landmass) before breaking up to form several different continents.
The mega landmass was slightly positioned towards the south. This explained how similar rock
formations and plant and animal fossils could exist on separated continents.
Pangaea was surrounded by a water body named Panthalassa (Pan= Entire and Thalassa= Water
Body).
Stage II: In the second stage around 200 million years ago in the Jurassic period, the supercontinent, Pangaea,
began to split because of certain forces either northwards (Laurasia) or southwards (Gondwanaland).
Laurasia got its name from the river flowing in North America named St. Lawrence River.
Pangaea first broke into large continental masses as Laurasia and Gondwanaland formed the northern and
southern components respectively.
This phase is known as Opening Up of Tethys Sea. The water body present in between Laurasia and
Gondwanaland was named as the Tethys Sea.
Stage III: Laurasia further broke into North America and Eurasia while Gondwanaland broke into
Peninsular India, Madagascar, Africa, South America, Australia and Antarctica. When India was a part
of the Gondwanaland, it was closer to the higher latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere and glaciers there
must have been glaciers in the Chotanagpur.
There were two types of drifting: One towards the west and towards the north. So, now with the drifting
of North America and South America towards the west, there was the formation of the Atlantic Ocean in
between.
Now the northward drifting of Indian and Africa reduced the size of the Tethys Sea and also opened
up the Indian Ocean.
While Wegner was looking at the Chotanagpur Plateau region he noticed certain peculiarities in terms
of glacial striations.
Gondwanaland was named after the Gond tribes who inhabited the Chottanagpur Plateau region.
Along with rifting, there was drifting too (moving from one position to another).
Now when Laurasia was close to the Northern Hemisphere, it is highly possible that depositions of
plants and animals finally led to the formation of coal.
This can be linked to as how Wegner found out that Kiruna (present location is at a very high latitude
so presence of plants and vegetation is to be least= no coal formation), a city in Sweden gave evidence
Contact Us: 9920613613
3
of coal deposits and the Chota Nagpur Plateau (present location near Tropic of Cancer) gave out
evidences of glacial marks.
Extra Edge:
Remnants of Tethys Sea: Many major seas and lakes of Europe and Western Asia, including the
Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Aral Sea, and Lake Urmia, are thought to be
remnants of the Paratethys.
There are multiple plates colliding with each other in the Mediterranean region which ultimately leads
to the formation of volcanoes.
Why is the Atlantic Ocean ‘S’ shaped?
The drifting of North America and South America towards the west would not happen at the same pace.
So, the differential movement between the two continents results in the ‘S’ of the Atlantic Ocean.
Stage IV: Formation of Island Nations (Sri Lanka, Japan New Zealand, Caribbean Islands) → According to
Wegner, the islands were formed due to the differential rate of movement of the continents.
With both rifting and drifting being continuous, during the movement of North and South America
towards the west, a few of their land masses (Caribbean Island) could not cope with the speed of the
drifting, these became separate islands.
Same with India (Sri Lanka), Asia (Japan) and Australia (New Zealand).
The original Panthalassa was reduced in size to form the present day pacific ocean.
Interesting fact:
India is the only nation in the world which inhabits both lion (African species) and tigers (Asian and
tropical species) together.
But before the drifting of the continents as India was located beside Africa, India had developed and
adapted itself to the weather conditions of Africa too. This links as to how lions are found together with
tigers.
Contact Us: 9920613613
4
Nawab of Junagadh was the first man who took up the initiative to conserve lions for hunting. (Present in
Gujarat= Gir National Park).
Reason behind the extinction of species:
Increase in population of a species in a particular location and if by chance any disease strikes, the
entire population gets wiped out.
In-breeding depression: When close relations mate with each other, their offspring will not have such
genetic variation which would decrease their chances of survival.
Example: Population of Red Pandas decreasing in Manas National Park.
Tigers are mostly found in the lower level of the Himalayas because it is closer to Tropic of Cancer.
Evidence placed by Wegner to prove the theory of Continental Drift to be correct:
Jig-saw Fit of the continents: When facing one another, the bulge of Brazil was fixed with the Gulf of Guinea,
Greenland was fitted with the Baffin Bay and Madagascar
was fitted with Africa.
Behaviour of animals: A particular type of rodent named
as Lemmings are found in Norway, Sweden and Finland.
On an increase in population of lemmings, these
creatures start running towards the west because it
has been apprehended that Norway, Finland and
Sweden are still connected with each other and
finally they fall into the ocean in between.
Even now when the forests of Madagascar would
catch fire, the animals would run towards their west
because they are not aware that Madagascar is no
longer attached with Africa. They do this because of
the impact of one’s habit.
Placer Deposits: There are huge gold deposits in the
western Africa especially Ghana but there is no source
rock in the immediate vicinity.
The fact that gold-bearing rocks may be found
across the Atlantic in South America. When the
two continents are laid side by side, it appears that
Ghana's gold reserves are sourced from the Brazil plateau as the River Amazon washed away those
gold particles from the rock and deposited it on the coast of Ghana when both of them were connected.
Distribution of Fossils: Many fossils of identical flora and fauna found in Brazil, Africa, Peninsular India and
Australia.
For example, Mesosaurus, a shallow freshwater crocodile-like reptile that would have swam its way all
the way from South America to Southern Africa. This was possible only because the continents were
joined with each other and later drifted apart. Similarly, glossopoteris (plant species) was found in
different locations.
Contact Us: 9920613613
5
Rocks of Same Age Across the Oceans: In North America, we have the Appalachian. Beside that we have
the Scandinavian mountain range, Kjolen. Wegner noticed that the age, mineral composition and characteristic
of the rocks were similar in both the mountain ranges. Now, he assumed that these ranges were stuck together
and later drifted apart.
Tillite deposits: Tillite is a type of sedimentary rock formed by glacier deposits. It reveals that the antiquity
of both landmasses was strikingly similar.
If tillite deposits are found on the Chotanagpur plateau it would mean that in the earlier times, glaciers
were present in the Chotanagpur plateau and after the glaciers would melt, it would leave its mark called
glacial striations.
Forces responsible for drifting:
Tidal Forces: According to Wegner, tidal forces were responsible for the drifting of continents. Believers of
the continental drift theory state that during full moon and new moon, drifting happened.
Pole-Fleeing Force (Centrifugal Force): According to Wegner, this force was responsible for the northwards
movement of the continents.
The polar-fleeing force relates to the rotation of the earth. Earth is not a perfect sphere; it has a bulge at
the equator.
This bulge is due to the rotation of the earth (greater centrifugal force at the equator). Centrifugal force
increases as we move from poles towards the equator. This increase in centrifugal force has led to pole
fleeing, according to Wegener.
Buoyancy Force
Gravitational Force
Criticism of the CDT:
Wegner could not explain the trigger mechanism behind the breaking down of the Pangaea and even could
not explain the sequence of drifting.
This theory was heavily based on assumptions such as apparent affinity of physical features can be a mere
coincidence because the shore lines change with time due to actions of the wave.
Forces propounded by Alfred Wegner were not sufficient enough to drift such big land masses because
tidal forces cannot be so strong which would result in both rifting and drifting.
Probable Mains Question:
1. Discuss the CDT in relation to the distribution of plants and other species across the globe. (10 marks)
2. Critically analyse the CDT. (10 marks)
3. Examine the limitations of the CDT. (10 marks)
Important points from the lecture to be noted:
Sargassum grass is found in the Sargasso Sea. This region has Cuba (helped by Russia) in its left because of
which America with the help of National Geography implanted a theory called the ‘Theory of Bermuda
Triangle.’
Finland is the country of lakes because of melting of glaciers along with the formation of pits while melting.
Contact Us: 9920613613
6
Great Lakes: Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario (HOMES)
Only Lake Michigan is completely in the USA whereas the other 4 share their boundary between the USA
and Canada.
Niagara Falls are on Erie and Ontario
Mt Denali/ Mt Mckinley: It is the highest mountain peak in North America
River Yukon: Famous for its gold placer deposits
North America is divided into 3 parts:
Western Part: Western Cordillera (chain of mountainous regions)
Central Lowlands: Plain Areas with Missouri and Mississippi
Eastern Highlands
Contact Us: 9920613613