When were Earth's landmasses first recognizable as the continents we know today? 10 million years ago 135 million years ago 180 million years ago 300 million years ago

The configuration of Earth's continents as we recognize them today has been the result of a long and dynamic geological history. Here's a brief overview to contextualize the timing: 1. **Pangaea and Its Breakup**: Around **300 million years ago**, all major landmasses were joined together in the supercontinent **Pangaea**. This massive continent began to break apart during the early Jurassic period. 2. **Continental Drift**: By **180 million years ago**, the breakup of Pangaea was underway, leading to the formation of smaller landmasses such as **Laurasia** in the northern hemisphere and **Gondwana** in the southern hemisphere. 3. **Formation of Modern Continents**: The continents continued to drift to their present positions over millions of years. By approximately **135 million years ago**, significant drift had occurred, and the landmasses began to take shapes that are more recognizable as the modern continents. This period marks a crucial phase in the separation and movement towards the configurations we are familiar with today. 4. **Recent Geological Changes**: The final adjustments and smaller-scale movements that refine the positions and shapes of continents have continued into the more recent **10 million years ago** period, but the foundational recognizable structures were established much earlier. **Answer:** **135 million years ago**