Earth ScienceEarth Science

Plate tectonicsPlate tectonics

That Land Down Under... and

the Other Land Down Under

OZ…

… and ANTARCTICA

Continental Continental DriftDrift

(more detail)(more detail)

• Pangea broke up into Laurasia and Gondwana.

• Australia separated from Gondwana about 65 million years ago.

• Notice India’s movement!

The PlatesThe Plates

• Remember, Australia and India are on the same plate

• Both countries were attached to Antarctica about 125 million years ago

Australia Nicking Off.Australia Nicking Off.

• Australia stayed connected to Antarctica by Tasmania

• Then about 40 million years ago, Australia became an island continent.

• Now, Australia is the only place in the world that is an ISLAND, a COUNTRY and a CONTINENT

Australia Nicking Off.Australia Nicking Off.

• It’s isolation caused it to develop completely unique flora and fauna. (know what they are?)

• Yes, they are plants, and animals.

• 80% of Western Australia’s plant life cannot be found anywhere else on the planet.

Types of MovementsTypes of Movements• Australia is

dominated by marsupials, very cute and cuddly.