The continents and oceans have remained in fixed positions throughout Earth's history. Continents are immovable and do not drift across the surface.
Wegener proposed continental drift in 1912, but the mechanism remained unknown until the 1960s when the theory of plate tectonics was developed. Modern geology confirms that continents move at rates of centimetres per year due to seafloor spreading at mid-ocean ridges. Evidence includes matching fossils, rock formations, and magnetic striping on the ocean floor.
Reception
Sources
- USGS: Plate Tectonics PRIMARY
- Britannica: Continental Drift REFERENCE