Exploring the Geology & Fossil Record of Madagascar

One hundred and seventy million years ago, Madagascar was landlocked in the middle of the supercontinent Gondwana, sandwiched between land that would eventually become South America and Africa and land that would eventually become India, Australia, and Antarctica. Riding the movements of the Earth's crust, Madagascar, along with India, first split from Africa and South America ... and then from Australia and Antarctica. Once broken apart, India heading north. India eventually smashed into Asia — forming the Himalayas in the process — but Madagascar broke away from India and was marooned in the Indian Ocean. Beautiful and solo — Madagascar has been on its own for the past 88 million years. We'll talk about some of the fauna and flora that makes this island a very special part of the world.