Which Modern Countries Were Closest to the Equator on Pangea?
May 7, 2026
The equatorial belt of Pangea ran through a very different set of landmasses than today's tropics. Some currently cold or temperate countries were in the hot zone, while some modern tropical nations were far from the equator.
The Equatorial Belt of Pangea
During the Triassic period, around 250 million years ago, the equator of Pangea ran roughly through the following regions: the eastern United States, northern Europe, central Asia, and parts of China. The tropical belt extended roughly 20 degrees on either side of this line.
The equatorial zone of Pangea was not uniformly tropical. Much of the equatorial interior was actually arid, similar to modern subtropical deserts, because the deep interior of such a large landmass cannot receive moisture from the distant oceans. True tropical forest likely existed only near the coasts.
Surprising Equatorial Countries
- United Kingdom: Parts of Britain sat very close to the Pangea equator, in a warm tropical to subtropical zone.
- Eastern United States: Virginia, the Carolinas, and Florida were within the equatorial belt, experiencing hot, seasonally arid conditions.
- France and Iberia: Parts of modern France and Spain were near the equator on Pangea.
- Morocco and northwestern Africa: Pressed against eastern North America, Morocco sat squarely in the equatorial zone.
- Kazakhstan and central Asia: The interior of Laurasia near the equator included what are now the Central Asian republics.
- Parts of China: Northern and central China were within the equatorial band on the eastern side of Pangea.
Countries That Were Far From the Equator
Countries that are now in the tropics were often far from the Pangea equator. India was south of the equator, near Antarctica, in the Gondwana supercontinent. Brazil and West Africa were also in the southern hemisphere, well south of the equatorial belt.
Scandinavia was somewhat close to the equator, while Antarctica was obviously at the pole. The key difference is that Gondwana, the southern supercontinent, was entirely in the southern hemisphere, while Laurasia spanned the equator and extended into the northern latitudes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was the UK near the equator 250 million years ago?
Yes. Parts of Britain were within the equatorial belt during the Triassic period, experiencing a warm, subtropical climate very different from today.
Were the Amazon rainforests near the equator on Pangea?
No. South America was in the southern hemisphere during Pangea, and the Amazon region was well south of the equator. Tropical forests would have existed in different regions than today.
Was the equatorial climate on Pangea the same as today's tropics?
Not exactly. The vast interior of Pangea meant that equatorial regions far from the coast were actually quite dry, more like modern subtropical deserts than tropical rainforests.