Abraham Ortelius

•  Abraham Ortelius was the first to formally propose that continents were once joined and later separated by natural processes. 
•  He was a Flemish cartographer known for publishing the first modern atlas, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (1570). 
•  His idea was significant because it marked the earliest scientific attempt to explain continental similarity beyond coincidence. 
•  The idea of continents being once joined emerged from observing the striking similarity between coastlines of Africa and South America. 
•  Many early thinkers noticed that Europe, Africa, and America could fit together like a puzzle, suggesting a common origin.
•  Antonio Pellegrini further supported this idea by drawing maps showing continents joined together.
Alfred Wegener and Continental Drift Theory (1912)
•  Alfred Wegener provided a comprehensive scientific explanation through the Continental Drift Theory. 
•  He proposed that all continents were once part of a supercontinent called Pangaea (“all earth”). 
•  This landmass was surrounded by a vast ocean called Panthalassa (“all water”). 
•  Around 200 million years ago, Pangaea split into: 
o  Laurasia (Northern landmass) 
o  Gondwanaland (Southern landmass) 
•  These further fragmented to form present-day continents.
•  Recognizing continents as once unified revolutionised physical geography and geology. 
•  It laid the foundation for modern theories like plate tectonics, explaining earthquakes, volcanism, and mountain building. 
•  It helped explain the distribution of fossils, minerals, and climatic patterns across continents.
Related points
Evidence Supporting Continental Drift
a) Jig-Saw Fit of Continents
•  The coastlines of Africa and South America match closely. 
b) Geological Evidence (Rock Similarity)
•  Rocks of similar age (~2000 million years) are found on both sides of the Atlantic (Brazil and West Africa). 
c) Glacial Deposits (Tillite)
•  Similar glacial deposits (tillite) are found across India, Africa, Antarctica, and Australia.  
d) Placer Deposits
•  Gold deposits in Ghana correspond to source rocks in Brazil, indicating past proximity. 
e) Fossil Evidence
•  Fossils of identical species like Mesosaurus are found in both Africa and South America.