Plate Tectonics
Alfred Wegener, a German scientist, put forth the theory of plate tectonics (a.k.a. continental drift) at the beginning of the 20th century.
He theorized that approximately 400 million years ago, Earth had only one continent, named Pangea. According to Wegener's theory, this landmass as well as the land under the oceans rests on a semi-liquid layer known as the astenophere. Because of the unstable nature of the this semi-liquid layer, land (above and below water) began breaking into pieces called plates. These plates began moving apart in places and crashing together in other places to form the mountains, valleys, fault lines, and continents as we know them today.
Because of plate tectonics, fossilized remains of ferns, freshwater fish, amphibians and reptiles normally found in non-Arctic areas are found throughout Antarctica.
Below is approximate time line for Antarctica's development
400 million years ago Pangea split into two supercontinents: Gondwanaland and Laurentia. North America, Europe, and Asia formed Laurentia; while Gondwanaland was formed by Antarctica, Africa, Australia, and South America.
200 million years ago Antarctica began splitting away the other continents and moving southward towards the south pole.
30-60 million years ago it reached its current location.
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