Cretaceous period: Movement of the Continents

During the Cretaceous period the massive continents of Gondwanaland and Laurasia continued to separate. South America and Africa had separated, with the consequent widening of the S Atlantic. The N Atlantic continued to expand, although it appears that Europe, Greenland, and North America were still connected. Madagascar had separated from Africa, while India was still drifting northward toward Asia. The Tethys Sea was disappearing as Africa moved north toward Eurasia. Antarctica and Australia had yet to separate.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Evolution of Plant and Animal Life
• Movement of the Continents
• The Upper Cretaceous Period
• The Lower Cretaceous Period

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