The origins of continents
The following is a first attempt to explain the origins of large Earth features, or the continents and ocean basins with a comprehensive principal, namely continental drift. Wherever once continuous old land features are interrupted at the sea, we will as
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The origins of continents Geol Rundsch 3:276-292
Translation received: 28 February 2002 © Springer-Verlag 2002
rupted at the sea, we will assume continental separation and drift. The resulting picture of our Earth is new and The following is a first attempt to explain the origins of paradoxical, but it does not reveal the physical causes. large Earth features, or the continents and ocean basins On the other hand, even with only an initial argument, with a comprehensive principal, namely continental drift. many surprising simplifications and interdependent conWherever on ce continuous old land features are inter- nections are evident so that it seems correct to substitute the new more usable working hypothesis in place of the old hypothesis of submerged continents. The long life of Lecture held on the general meeting of the Geologische Vereini- the latter comes from its usefulness as a counter-argugung in Frankfurt a. M. on 6 January 1912. The following is an ex- ment to ocean permanence. Despite its broad basis, tract from a larger work with the same title that appears on I would prefer that the new principle be used as a workPetermann's communication. The essential contents of this study ing hypothesis until exact astronomical measurements were presented during the annual meeting of the Geologische Vereinigung in Frankfurt a. M. under a title "Die Herausbildung establish a more lasting basis for the horizontal moveder Grossformen der Erdrinde (Kontinente und Ozeane), auf ments. In judging single aspects of the hypothesis one geophysikalischer Grundlage "and again on 10 January at the should remain aware that in the first version of such a "Gesellschaft zur Förderung der gesamten Naturwissenschaften zu comprehensive idea single mi stakes cannot be avoided. Marburg" with the title "Horizontalverschiebungen der Kontinente". On the basis of general geology and geophysics, we will first discuss how, if at all , large horizontal drift of Translated by Roland von Huene continents in an apparently stiff Earth crust can occur. 1 Translation note: This translation was made onboard the research Thereafter, we will make an initial attempt to follow the vessel Sonne during a scientific cruise. After leaving the harbour I existing rifts and movement of the continents in Earth discovered that the file of my initial work was lost and begin again. My German shipboard colleagues became my technical dic- history. The connection of continental drift with the contionary. As a scientist rather than linguist or translator I attempted struction of major mountain ranges will be revealed, and to compose an easily read English account conveying ideas rather finally we will discuss the closely connected polar wanthan a literal conversion from the original German. The reader der and the measurement of continual continentaI movesearching for an exact literal translation should consult the original ments. German text. Foremost in this effort was to show Wegener's thinkIt has been said that the idea of rigid areas rifting ing and his construct
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