They are separate tectonic plates, the two continents only crashed together relatively recently, the “columbian exchange” that saw wildlife mix between the continents. South America was near Africa at one point, North America more with Europe as I understand it.
When I was on the Appalachian trail they had a placard that explained it and said it’s also the oldest mountain range in the world, and used to be like 4x the size of the himalayans (which is the youngest.) Others have disputed that, but just internet randos with no sources, I trust the NPS placard.
Nowadays, though, they’re being systematically torn out and replaced with MAGA christofascist propaganda. Think “war of northern aggression” and destruction of anything about black history, for example.
I wouldn’t put it past them to replace info about plate tectonics with creationist bullshit eventually.
It was a long time ago, and I trust that nps placard. The ones in the cities are not so reliable. I saw one in Independence square in philly that blamed the quakers of all people for slavery (they were against it from the start,) and otherwise projected blame, credit for the placard was like, avenging our ancestors or some shit. The south rose again and took us from the inside, except they did it by an unholy alliance with big business and religion, and it will destroy us all, and our republic.
Hills near me (northern Scotland) were once magma chambers underneath volcanoes! That’s how worn down they are. Wild to think about, and makes some lovely granite.
They are separate tectonic plates, the two continents only crashed together relatively recently, the “columbian exchange” that saw wildlife mix between the continents. South America was near Africa at one point, North America more with Europe as I understand it.
I find it really cool that the Appalachian mountains used to be connected with what’s now the Scottish Highlands, if memory serves correctly.
When I was on the Appalachian trail they had a placard that explained it and said it’s also the oldest mountain range in the world, and used to be like 4x the size of the himalayans (which is the youngest.) Others have disputed that, but just internet randos with no sources, I trust the NPS placard.
If it was placed before 2025, sure.
Nowadays, though, they’re being systematically torn out and replaced with MAGA christofascist propaganda. Think “war of northern aggression” and destruction of anything about black history, for example.
I wouldn’t put it past them to replace info about plate tectonics with creationist bullshit eventually.
It was a long time ago, and I trust that nps placard. The ones in the cities are not so reliable. I saw one in Independence square in philly that blamed the quakers of all people for slavery (they were against it from the start,) and otherwise projected blame, credit for the placard was like, avenging our ancestors or some shit. The south rose again and took us from the inside, except they did it by an unholy alliance with big business and religion, and it will destroy us all, and our republic.
So crazy to think about because they’re so worn down at this point. Neat!
Hills near me (northern Scotland) were once magma chambers underneath volcanoes! That’s how worn down they are. Wild to think about, and makes some lovely granite.
(That’s the joke)