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© Stéphane Compoint
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Map 2: Continental Drift: 100,000 years ago, as Gondwana, the giant continent composed of all the Southern continents, began to break up, the Indian plate, much larger than today, began drifting through the Indian Ocean. 55 million years ago, it struck the Asian plate. 43 MYA, there was full contact. The tremendous impact drove the Indian plate under the Asian plate. 35 MYA, at the time of Baluchitherium, pressure forced breakage and folds, which were the beginnings of the Himalayas. A fertile and alluvial plain was created at the foot of the relief. In a warm and humid climate, the plain was soon covered with abundant vegetation. All the better for Baluchitherium! The plates are still moving today. Over 1000 kilometers of the Indian continent have disappeared under Asia. At the time of Baluchitherium, the Bugti hills were 15 degrees south of their current position, at Indonesia’s present-day latitude.
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Term of use: All pictures are © Stéphane Compoint except : pic n° 56 to 60 : © Gedeon Programmes (www.gedeonprogrammes.com)
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