What was the name of the northern continent after Pangaea split?

Study for the Aquatic Science Plate Tectonics Test. Explore comprehensive flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each accompanied by insights and explanations. Prepare effectively for your exam!

After the breakup of Pangaea during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras, the northern landmass that formed was called Laurasia. Laurasia included what is now North America, Europe, and parts of Asia, existing alongside the southern continent, Gondwana.

The division of Pangaea into Laurasia and Gondwana was significant in the context of plate tectonics, illustrating how continental drift led to the formation of the continents we recognize today. The breakup facilitated various geological and biological processes, including the evolution of different species in isolated environments.

Gondwana refers to the southern landmass that contained present-day South America, Africa, Antarctica, Australia, and the Indian subcontinent. Tethys is a historical ocean rather than a continent, which existed between these two landmasses. Asia, while part of the northern hemisphere, did not serve as the name for the entire continental mass that emerged from Pangaea; instead, it was one of the regions within Laurasia. Therefore, Laurasia is the correct name representing the northern continent following Pangaea's division.

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