The Creation of a New Continent

By Elizabeth Adlam

This book is a detailed insight of the geological history of North America, from its rifting from the Pangea, to where it is situated on the planet earth today. It describes the evolution of life forms from prehistoric ages, as well as getting struck by an Asteroid over 65 million years ago on the Yucatan Peninsular, to when the first Europeans appeared in the Caribbean in 1492 with Christopher Columbus.' - Timothy P Stavert

• Language: English
• Publisher: Legend Press
• Release date: Dec 14, 2015
• ISBN: 9781785075940

Book preview

WARS

PREFACE

From a wild, wet week in October 2013, it seems a lifetime ago, since in Jan 1998 I boarded the cruise ship Black Prince. It was my first cruise lecturer appointment which opened a new and exciting world, taking me to places which I did not know existed. We live in a diverse and wonderful world and the chance to see it is an amazing experience.

Many hours are spent in research for the ports of call and the hinterland which will be visited. This time has made these places fascinating for me and hopefully for the passengers on board who come to my lectures! My aim is always to paint a broad canvas, with some oddments of gossip where possible. This is usually in the form of who lived there or plants used for less than legal purpose.

I felt that I could share some of the background information I have discovered over the years. In the hope that it will enhance the passenger cruising experience, I have put together this material for North America.

The world is a big place, so other cruising areas will be covered in the fullness of time. For now, enjoy reading the story of North America and travel safely.

The next story is on South America so watch this space!

Acknowledgements

This book is dedicated to my daughter Gail, whose idea it was to write this book. Her loving support kept me going when the end seemed very far away.

In addition my logo was designed by my Grandson, Oliver Adlam.

INTRODUCTION

This table demonstrates the time scale of the sedimentary rocks on the earth for the North American Continent.

IN THE BEGINNING

The huge continent of North America we see today in the 21st century, sited between the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, has had a long and violent history.

The movement of the continents worldwide have affected both its shape and climate. No remains of our modern form Homo sapiens have been found, so all the native peoples of both North and South America are comparatively recent immigrants. North America has been a continent in restless physical development until the end of the last Ice Age when some stability was finally achieved.

North America was part of the huge land mass or crust on the surface of the earth called Pangea, formed approx. 300 million years ago. This mass or crust moved (still is) in response to the heat generated in the mantle below it. This heat can still be seen today in the eruption of volcanoes.

PANGEA A COMPLETE LAND MASS

Pangea carried with it flora and fauna which had been evolving on the earth and was still evolving, altering their distribution as new seas and mountains appeared. So when approximately 250 million years ago Pangea began to break up, the flora and fauna were even further distributed across two major land masses.