How North America got its shape - Peter J. Haproff
789,707 Views
26,789 Questions Answered
TEDEd Animation
Let’s Begin…
North America didn’t always have its familiar shape, nor its famed mountains, canyons, and plains: all of that was once contained in an unrecognizable mass, buried deep in Rodinia, a huge supercontinent that lay on the face of the Earth. Peter J. Haproff explains how it took millions of years and some incredible plate tectonics to forge the continent we know today.
The theory of plate tectonics is a relatively new idea, developed in the mid-20th century following the discovery of tectonic features on seafloors. Can you imagine our explanation of faults, earthquakes, mountains, and rifting before the plate tectonic revolution?
Sign in to answer questionAbout TED-Ed Animations
TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »
Meet The Creators
- Educator Peter J. Haproff
- Script Editor Emma Bryce
- Director Hernando Bahamon
- Art Director Andrés Landazábal
- Composer Manuel Borda
- Compositor Ricardo Avila
- Animator Miguel Otálora
- Narrator Addison Anderson
