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Plate Tectonics

The surface of the earth is made up a number of large tectonic plates which have been slowly moving about the earth for billions of years.  The moving of the plates also causes the movement of the various continents.  This is scientifically known as Continental Drift.  At one time, scientists have found that the earth was at one point one large mass of land, known as Pangea.  Over millions of years, the movement of the plates has caused the continents to be in the location that they are in today.  The tectonic plates are constantly moving, so the continents are always moving ever so slightly every day.  Many mountain ranges have been formed all over the earth from the colliding of tectonic plates over millions of years.

Watch the videos below to learn more about tectonic plates!

The Supercontinents - Plate Tectonics

The World Before Plate Tectonics

Naked Science - Colliding Continients

Climb The Majestic Rockies - How The Earth Was Made

Geology of Grand Teton National Park

2.8 The Appalachian Mountains:  Continents Collide - Plate Tectonics

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