Laurasia facts for kids

Laurasia was a supercontinent. It had been the northern part of the Pangaea global supercontinent. Pangaea split in the Jurassic into Laurasia and Gondwana to the south.

Laurasia included most of the landmasses which make up today's continents of the northern hemisphere, chiefly Laurentia (the name given to the North American craton), Europe, Baltica, Siberia, Kazakhstan, and China.

The name combines the names of Laurentia and Eurasia.

Although Laurasia is known as a Mesozoic phenomenon, today it is believed that the same continents that formed the later Laurasia also existed as a coherent supercontinent after the breakup of Rodinia around 1 billion years ago. To avoid confusion with the Mesozoic continent, this is referred to as Proto-Laurasia.

Images for kids

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  Rodinia 900 Mya centred on Laurentia with Baltica and Amazonia on its southern margin. View centred on 30°S,130°E.

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  Laurussia (left) during the closure of the Iapetus Ocean 430 Mya (middle Silurian) (view centred on 0°,-60°).

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  Pangaea formed during the closure of the Rheic Ocean 330 Mya (early Carboniferous) (view centred on 30°S,30°E)

See also

In Spanish: Laurasia para niños