The American Great Plains were once covered by a vast, ancient sea.
In short: The central United States was not always landlocked. This video explores the Western Interior Seaway, an ancient body of water that stretched from the Caribbean to the Arctic, transforming the modern-day Great Plains into a prehistoric marine environment.
The Western Interior Seaway was a massive geological feature that once bisected North America. At its peak, this waterway connected the Caribbean Sea to the Canadian Arctic, creating a unique habitat across the central continent.
The existence of this seaway is documented in the natural history of the region, notably detailed in Michael J. Everhart’s work, Oceans of Kansas. Understanding this ancient geography provides context for the fossilized remnants found across the modern Great Plains today.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: When Sharks Swam the Great Plains
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