Plate tectonics is the scientific theory that Earth’s outer shell is divided into several plates that glide over the mantle, the rocky inner layer above the core. Image credit: USGS

Earth is still changing and our seven continents are still in the breakup phase from the last time they were attached together. Then as the supercontinent “Pangea”, which ruled the planet surface about 200 million years ago.

Our continents will continue to wander away from each other for another 50 million years. But then the theory among geologist is that our continents will begin to merge once more to create another supercontinent, dubbed “Pangea Ultima”.

Based on continental plate cycles, the American geologist Christopher Scotese has outlined a scenario for this future continent to consist of a southern landmass comprising of Antarctica and Australia, and a northern, consisting of all the others, North and South America, the Eurasian continent and Africa.

The animation below shows the continued evolving of Earth into Pangea Ultima.

And this animation shows the evolving from Pangea into the Earth we recognize today.