Pangaea was the ancient supercontinent that united nearly all of Earth’s land about 300 million years ago. Its name comes from Greek roots meaning “all Earth,” and the term was introduced by German meteorologist Alfred Wegener in 1915.
Pangaea formed during the late Paleozoic Era as tectonic plates converged. It began breaking apart during the Triassic Period, roughly 200 million years ago, eventually producing the continental arrangement that continued to change into the present day.
The supercontinent was surrounded by a vast ocean called Panthalassa. A large embayment known as the Tethys Ocean lay along its eastern side and later influenced the development of the Mediterranean region and parts of Asia.
Pangaea is not the only supercontinent known from geological history. Earlier examples include Rodinia and Gondwana, while Laurasia was a major northern landmass formed after Pangaea began separating. Scientists reconstruct these ancient arrangements using matching fossils, rock layers, mountain belts, and paleomagnetic evidence.