The supercontinent Pangea was a massive landmass that once covered nearly the entire surface of the Earth, existing around 300 million years ago.
Millions of years ago, the Earth had a completely different appearance. Instead of the continents we recognize today, our planet was enveloped by a vast supercontinent known as Pangea. This supercontinent occupied about one-third of the Earth’s surface before it began to break apart into smaller continents around 175 million years ago. But what if Pangea had never split apart? What would the modern world look like? How would our lives change?
Pangea is unlike any continent we know today. It was a single landmass surrounded by a gigantic ocean called Panthalassa.
Viewed from space, Pangea had a C-shaped form, with the water contained within the C being the Tethys Sea. Due to its massive size, Pangea would have had a highly diverse climate, ranging from frigid polar regions to warm, humid equatorial zones.
If Pangea still existed, theoretically, we could drive from California to England. Places that were once separated by oceans would now become close neighbors. This would not only change geography but also profoundly impact the evolutionary paths of both humans and animals. If Pangea had not broken apart, we might not exist as we do today.
However, assuming we had developed as we currently have, what would happen if Pangea remained a unified landmass? Countries would not be located where they are today. North America would still be relatively close, but Europe would be just a short distance east of America. Asia would be closer to Russia, while Antarctica, India, and Australia would connect at the southern tip of Pangea. This would lead to many regions having climates very different from those we experience today.
If the supercontinent Pangea still existed today, our world would be completely different.
The central part of the enormous continent would likely be very arid, potentially forming large deserts. In contrast, the coastal areas would be more humid and receive more rainfall. With a single ocean, ocean currents would be less diverse, affecting the distribution of temperature and humidity globally. Additionally, our planet could have seen the emergence of gigantic mammal species, similar to those that once inhabited early Pangea.
Countries that currently enjoy warm climates could be replaced by icy terrains, while remote regions like Russia might become warmer and more habitable. Certain central areas of Pangea would be uninhabitable due to a lack of rainfall caused by their distance from the ocean. These regions could potentially evolve into vast deserts, creating a harsh living environment for both humans and animals.
This geographic division would not only affect the environment but also reduce biodiversity. Many animal species would have fewer opportunities to evolve in such a vast contiguous environment, possibly leading to fewer species and less rich ecosystems. Travel between countries could become easier and quicker, but this proximity could also pose political and security challenges. Nations that were once thousands of miles apart, like the U.S. and Africa, would become next-door neighbors.
Living next to each other could create more opportunities for cooperation and peace.
With a single continent, humans might develop a common culture, limiting cultural diversity. Furthermore, movement and trade might become more challenging, potentially slowing the development of technology and civilization. Human activities could lead to more rapid and severe climate changes than we see today. Some species may struggle to adapt to environmental changes and face extinction.
Conversely, the unity of Pangea could also bring a more positive outlook. If all countries shared a common land, we might learn to treat each other better. Living next to each other could create more opportunities for cooperation and peace. A geographically unified world might also lead to political and social solidarity.
While we cannot return to the time of Pangea, imagining a world where all continents remained adjacent provides fascinating insights into the shifts in geography and their profound effects on the evolutionary and developmental history of humanity.
The unity of Pangea could also bring a more positive outlook.
In conclusion, if Pangea still existed, our world would be a very different place. The distribution of land and ocean, climate, flora, and humanity would all be profoundly affected. However, these are merely hypotheses based on our somewhat limited knowledge at this time.
