The ancient enigma of Argoland, a lost continent that vanished 155 million years ago, may have met its match as scientists uncover clues to its mysterious departure. In a groundbreaking study, researchers reveal the tumultuous breakup of Argoland from western Australia, shedding light on its fragmented journey across Southeast Asia.
Known as Argoland, this lost continent was separated from western Australia due to tectonic forces stretching and tearing it away from the mainland. Unlike other landmasses that remained intact after separation, Argoland shattered into fragments, leaving scientists in the dark about its final destination. Lead researcher Eldert Advocaat and his team retraced the continent’s journey, discovering ancient land remnants scattered across Indonesia and Myanmar.
However, the puzzle didn’t fit until they unearthed evidence of small oceans dating back 200 million years. These oceans formed during the tectonic processes that led to Argoland’s fragmentation. The reconstruction unveiled a 3,100-mile-long journey of Argoland’s scattered fragments to Southeast Asia, challenging the notion of a “lost” continent and introducing the term “Argopelago” to describe its extended and fragmented state.
This scientific revelation provides insights into past climates and offers a springboard for new research, potentially explaining the biodiversity distribution in the region shaped by Argoland’s collision with Southeast Asia.