Why are continents wider in the north?

It’s because the landmasses were formed in hours or days by an electrical discharge of unimaginable proportions. The separation of the two halves of the earth into land in the north and sea in the south indicates an enormous separation of charges.

Which continent is shaped like a triangle?

The continent is compact and roughly triangular in shape, being broad in the north and tapering to a point—Cape Horn, Chile—in the south….South America.

Which continent is a long triangular shaped continent?

South America is a long triangular shaped continent. It stretched from 12°N to 55°S latitude. The Equator passes through the northern part of the continent and the Tropic of Capricorn runs roughly through the middle. Because of its tapering shape, a major part of the landmass is in the tropics.

Which is the only continent that isn t wider in the north?

Antarctic climate The continent is divided into two regions, known as East and West Antarctica. East Antarctica makes up two-thirds of the continent, and is about the size of Australia.

Why are the continents shaped the way they are?

The surface of the continents has changed many times because of mountain building, weathering, erosion, and build-up of sediment. Continuous, slow movement of tectonic plates also changes surface features. The rocks that form the continents have been shaped and reshaped many times.

Which two continents fit together most noticeably?

Answer. The east coast of South America and the west coast of Africa seem to fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, and Wegener discovered their rock layers “fit” just as clearly.

How are the continents shaped?

Today, we know that the continents rest on massive slabs of rock called tectonic plates. The plates are always moving and interacting in a process called plate tectonics. The continents are still moving today. Some of the most dynamic sites of tectonic activity are seafloor spreading zones and giant rift valleys.

What’s the smallest continent?

Australia
Continent/Smallest

Why do you think the position of the continents during Pangaea and the present position in the world map is not the same?

Scientists believe that the North American continent was located much farther south and east of it’s position today. Scientists believe that Pangea broke apart for the same reason that the plates are moving today. The movement is caused by the convection currents that roll over in the upper zone of the mantle.

When did the continents get their current shape?

200 million years ago
Pangaea existed about 240 million years ago. By about 200 million years ago, this supercontinent began breaking up. Over millions of years, Pangaea separated into pieces that moved away from one another. These pieces slowly assumed their positions as the continent we recognize today.

What analogy does the author use to describe how Earth’s continents fit together?

Wegener realized that the continents seem to fit together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. This giant piece of land was called Pangaea.

What is the fit of the continents?

The Fit of the Continents. The fit of South America and Africa, including the continental shelf at a depth of 500 metres. Almost as soon as the continents were mapped, it was noticed that South America fits neatly into the corner of Africa. This fit is even better if you include the shallow underwater shelf which extends around their coastlines.

Is South America really in the corner of Africa?

Almost as soon as the continents were mapped, it was noticed that South America fits neatly into the corner of Africa. This fit is even better if you include the shallow underwater shelf which extends around their coastlines. Is this just a coincidence or were the continents really once joined?

Who first proposed the theory of continental drift?

The cartogapher Abraham Ortelius suggested in 1596 the possibility that the continents had drifted apart to their current positions. A map of fossil distributions across the continents.