The Restless Map Beneath Our Feet
Gondwana—originally known as Gondwana Land—was an ancient supercontinent that brought together most of the present-day landmasses of the Southern Hemisphere, including Antarctica, South America, Africa, Madagascar, Australia–New Guinea, New Zealand, the Indian subcontinent, and the Arabian Peninsula. Geological evidence suggests it was assembled through successive continental collisions between 1,000 and 542 million years ago. In time, Gondwana merged with other major landmasses—North America, Europe, and Siberia—to form the supercontinent Pangaea, cradle of the dinosaurs, which eventually fractured into two vast realms: Laurasia to the north and Gondwana to the south.
The breakup of Gondwana unfolded in stages. Around 180 million years ago, itswestern half—Africa and South America—began to drift from the eastern segment, which included Madagascar, India, Australia, and Antarctica. By 140 million years ago, the South Atlantic had opened, completing the separation of Africa and South America. India, still linked to Madagascar, soon rifted from Antarctica and Australia, forming the Central Indian Ocean. As Antarctica drifted southward into isolation, India sped north to collide with Eurasia some 50 million years ago, giving rise to the Himalayas. Meanwhile, the Australian plate began its ongoing push into Southeast Asia.
The continents we recognise today are thus but a fleeting arrangement in a much longer tale of perpetual motion. Though imperceptible to us in real time, Earth’s landmasses have proved more nomadic than many of their inhabitants—periodically gathering into supercontinents. Besides Gondwana and Pangaea, these include Columbia, Rodinia, and Pannotia.
In some distant future, the world may once again be cloaked in the sweeping mantle of a supercontinent. The next is expected to form when the Americas and Asia drift northward and converge, sealing off the Arctic Ocean. This projected landmass—nicknamed Amasia—may rise near the site where Pangaea once stood, following patterns consistent with earlier supercontinental cycles. As for when this might occur, we shall never witness it: estimates range from 50 to 200 million years hence.
The breakup of Gondwana unfolded in stages. Around 180 million years ago, itswestern half—Africa and South America—began to drift from the eastern segment, which included Madagascar, India, Australia, and Antarctica. By 140 million years ago, the South Atlantic had opened, completing the separation of Africa and South America. India, still linked to Madagascar, soon rifted from Antarctica and Australia, forming the Central Indian Ocean. As Antarctica drifted southward into isolation, India sped north to collide with Eurasia some 50 million years ago, giving rise to the Himalayas. Meanwhile, the Australian plate began its ongoing push into Southeast Asia.
The continents we recognise today are thus but a fleeting arrangement in a much longer tale of perpetual motion. Though imperceptible to us in real time, Earth’s landmasses have proved more nomadic than many of their inhabitants—periodically gathering into supercontinents. Besides Gondwana and Pangaea, these include Columbia, Rodinia, and Pannotia.
In some distant future, the world may once again be cloaked in the sweeping mantle of a supercontinent. The next is expected to form when the Americas and Asia drift northward and converge, sealing off the Arctic Ocean. This projected landmass—nicknamed Amasia—may rise near the site where Pangaea once stood, following patterns consistent with earlier supercontinental cycles. As for when this might occur, we shall never witness it: estimates range from 50 to 200 million years hence.
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