Greater Adria lost continent, 140 million years ago. Map of the Earth showing the continents some 60 million years after the start of the break-up of the ancient supercontinent of Pangea, and 140 million years before the modern era. Shown at upper right is the 'lost' continent of Greater Adria that slid under what is now Europe, helping to form its mountain ranges. The Earth's continents move over the surface of the Earth, driven by movements of the fluid mantle below the crust. This stage in the history shows the emerging shapes of some of today's continents. For alternate versions of this map, with and without labels, see images C047/4788 to C047/4790 and C047/47904.