Have a question? eNotes editors are standing by to help you.
What were the other supercontinents before Pangaea?
Current theory suggests that Pangaea was not the first supercontinent, and that there were several others that also broke apart and reformed. What were these other supercontinents called and how long ago did they exist?
3 Answers | add yours
Teacher
Community / Jr. College
Distinguished Editor, Debater, Expert, Educator, Dickens, The Bard, Churchill, Einstein
As far as I can tell, the current thinking is that there were two supercontinents before Pangaea. There was Rodinia (the one I posted a link about the last time you asked about this) and one...
(The entire answer is 93 words.)
This is an expert answer, written by an eNotes editor. To read the entire answer, please join eNotes.
Scientists have been able to trace back the changes of the planets plates over the past years leading them to hypothesize that there were three known super continents. The most recent theory is that the plate tectonics movement are cyclical and do not occur by chance. In order for a continent to be considered a super continent, it must be a combination of land masses far exceeding the size of present day continents. There were many such continents but not as big as Pangae. They are Gondwana ( 570 and 510 million years ago), Laurasia (Mesoicozoa Era) , Pannotia (540 million years ago), Rodina (1100 and 750 million years ago), Columbia, Kenorland, Nena, Ur, and Vaalbara. It is important to note that most of the super continents have been in theory.
It is theorized that approximately 430 million years ago the southern continents were joined as a single land mass known as Gondwana. In the late Paleozoic it is believed that the ancestor of...
(The entire answer is 98 words.)
This is an expert answer, written by an eNotes editor. To read the entire answer, please join eNotes.
Join for free to answer this question
Join a community of thousands of dedicated teachers and students.
Already a member? Sign in » JOIN eNOTES
