Palaeogeography

The paleogeography or palaeogeography is a branch of geology and tries to reconstruct how the earth looked like in earlier times. Here it is based partly on evaluations of sediments - because these can most conclusions about the distribution of mountain and water landscapes close. Another important indicator of the reconstruction are fossils. These suggest connections between different areas of land.

The main task of the paleogeography is to find out how certain areas have looked in earlier times. Not only the position of the continents plays a major role. As in the modern geography also it is all about figuring out how have looked past landscapes. Areas that are desert today, for example, were long ago a sea ( as was demonstrated in the Sahara). Other areas, where today the mountains, were formerly levels. And valleys and striking sedimentary deposits can shed light on rivers that flowed long ago and which no longer exist today.

With the support of tectonics and paleontology can such a large-scale image of the earth are designed in past geological eras with considerable detail.

Through intensive collaboration with paleontology and biogeography another special field has also opened: Through fossils evidence can limit the habitats of different organisms and thus draw conclusions about ancient land connections. This branch of research is called paleobiogeography. The resulting blend of geological and biological parts allows detailed information about past eras and gives an overall picture of the benefit both branches.