Category: Geography > Pangaea
One of the most intriguing geographical connections is the ancient link between Antarctica and the Amazon Rainforest, stemming from a time when the continents were arranged differently. Around 200 million years ago, during the late Triassic period, the supercontinent Pangaea included what is now South America and Antarctica as adjacent land masses. This shared history means that both regions once had similar climates and ecosystems, characterized by dense forests teeming with life. Fossil evidence reveals that species such as the Glossopteris tree, which thrived in warm, temperate climates, were found in both Antarctica and parts of what is now Brazil. As tectonic plates shifted and the continents drifted apart, the climates diverged dramatically, leading to the icy conditions of Antarctica today, while the Amazon evolved into one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth. This geological past illustrates the dynamic nature of our planet's geography and the profound impact of continental drift on ecosystems.