Users can simply enter their city name into a newly created app to uncover where dinosaurs roamed in their era and in even earlier periods. This link invites readers on a journey to the distant past, though some Spanish islands and certain cities may not have data available in the app.
The history of Earth reveals that its present appearance is relatively young. The land and seas, along with continents such as Eurasia, North America, South America, Africa, Antarctica, and Oceania, sit on large, interconnected blocks known as tectonic plates. These pieces fit together like a vast puzzle. Yet they drift very slowly. Changes unfold over millions of years, far beyond a single human lifetime, so the planet can look wildly different after long stretches of time.
The app was created by Ian Webster, drawing on plate tectonics data and paleogeographic maps from the PALEOMAP Project led by the team behind the paleogeographic reconstructions. This collaboration brings deep context to the visuals and timings shown in the interface.
The main screen displays an image of Earth from 240 million years ago, during the era of the supercontinent Pangea. Users can choose imagery spanning from 750 million years ago up to today. On desktop devices, holding the left or right arrow keys enables observers to watch the continents drift and gradually take on their modern outlines.
The map also offers views of major milestones in life’s history, including the emergence of the first vertebrates, the evolution of early hominids, and the mass extinction events that marked the end of the dinosaurs.
Attribution: PALEOMAP Project and associated paleogeographic data sources. This resource is cited to acknowledge the foundational work behind the visualizations and timelines presented in the app.
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Note: This material reflects ongoing scientific understanding and is intended to provide a broad, educational overview of Earth’s changing geography and life history for audiences in North America and beyond.