Aconcagua

Such idea probably aroused after observing maps and analyzing the shape of continents on either side of the ocean, which seemed to fit together, most notably, Africa and South America.

Research done by geologist E. Suess, on the other hand, showed similar results, and he named this huge continent comprising Africa and South America Gondwana.

In 1910 A. L. Wegener and F.B. Taylor explained the mechanisms leading to the breaking-up of the continents, thus starting the so-called Theory of Continental Drift. This theory held that in a similar fashion to the vertical movements of the crust, some sideward movements could be caused by earth’s internal forces, as well as external, in particular, those coming from both the sun and the moon. These forces might have been responsible for the breaking and later drifting of large landmasses, a phenomenon which can be observed in the different characteristics of the relief found around the globe. In addition to explaining the mechanisms which caused the continental drift, Wegener gathered geological, paleontological and paleoclimatic evidence that the Atlantic coasts shared a common past and that all the continents had once been joined in one supercontinent known as Pangaea.

There was a great deal of discussion about this theory. Also, it was the kick-off for much interdisciplinary research which would lead to important discoveries.