Pangandusüsteem

Pangandusüsteem, also known as the Pangaean supercontinent, was a single, massive continent that existed approximately 335 to 200 million years ago. It was the last supercontinent to exist on Earth and encompassed nearly all of the Earth's land area. The name Pangaea is derived from the Greek words "pan" meaning "all" and "gaia" meaning "Earth."

The Pangaean supercontinent formed during the late Paleozoic Era as a result of the gradual collision and merging of several smaller continents. This process, known as continental drift, was driven by the movement of tectonic plates. Pangaea began to break apart during the early Mesozoic Era, around 200 million years ago, due to the separation of the supercontinent into two large landmasses: Laurasia in the north and Gondwana in the south.

The breakup of Pangaea had significant geological and climatic impacts. The separation of the continents led to the formation of new ocean basins, such as the Atlantic Ocean, and altered global ocean currents. This, in turn, affected climate patterns, leading to changes in temperature and precipitation. The supercontinent's dissolution also played a role in the diversification of life, as it facilitated the exchange of species between different regions.

The Pangaean supercontinent's existence and subsequent breakup are crucial concepts in the study of plate tectonics and the evolution of life on Earth. Its remnants can still be observed in the form of similar geological features and fossil records found on different continents.