The first supercontinent
The cratons find each other for the first time
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Around 2.7 billion years ago an unusually strong pulse of continental crust formed — an estimated quarter of all continental material that exists today. Kenorland is the most common reconstruction of the supercontinent that followed, though both the name and its extent are contested. The supercontinent cycle has consequences far beyond geology: when the continents gather, coastline shortens, climate becomes more continental and nutrient supply to the ocean weakens. Kenorland's break-up around 2.5 billion years ago coincides with the oxygenation and the first global glaciation.
For children
The small continental cores that had drifted about separately came together into one large landmass. We call it Kenorland. Since then the continents have gathered and broken apart at least four times — Earth breathes on a rhythm of hundreds of millions of years.
Connects to
Part of Terra Saga — the story of Earth on a timeline. terrasaga.org