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    Tables – Continents that no longer exist



    Former ContinentEstimated Time of ExistenceBrief Description
    Vaalbara3.6–2.8 billion years agoVaalbara was one of the earliest supercontinents in Earth’s history and included parts of what are now Western Australia and South Africa.
    Kenorland~2.72 billion years agoCovering large parts of the Earth’s surface, Kenorland consisted of what are now North America, Greenland, Scandinavia, and parts of Europe and Russia.
    Ur3 – 1 billion years agoUr is considered one of the earliest continents and was probably the first continent ever to exist. It probably covered areas in what is now India, Madagascar, Australia and Antarctica.
    Columbia (Nuna)1.8–1.35 billion years agoThis supercontinent was composed of proto-cratons now located in nearly all continents on Earth, including North America, Baltica, Amazonia, and parts of Asia.
    Rodinia1.3–0.9 billion years agoRodinia was one of the more recent supercontinents, and includes most of the Earth’s landmass. It broke apart in the Neoproterozoic era, leading to the formation of further continents.
    Pannotia633-573 million years agoPannotia was a very short-lived supercontinent that existed at the end of the Precambrian period. It was considered as a stepping stone in the formation of Pangea.
    Laurasia335–175 million years agoBorn out of the major supercontinent Pangea, Laurasia included what are now North America, Europe, and Asia.
    Gondwana300–180 million years agoGondwana was the larger of the two continents born out of Pangea and included landmasses now seen as South America, Africa, Madagascar, Australia, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Indian subcontinent.
    Pangea335–175 million years agoThe most well-known supercontinent, Pangea, amalgamated all of the Earth’s landmasses. Its subsequent breakup formed the continents as we know them today.