Greenland separates from Europe
Seafloor spreading begins in the North Atlantic, and Europe and North America start moving apart for good.
- When
- —
- Duration
- 3 million years
- Known to
- ± 1 million years
- Era
- Eocene, Cenozoic
After tens of millions of years of rifting and the massive volcanism of the North Atlantic Igneous Province, true seafloor spreading begins between Greenland and northwest Europe near the end of the Paleocene. The land bridges that had allowed mammals and plants to move freely between North America and Europe begin to close, and the two faunas start to diverge. The ridge that opens here is still spreading today, which is why Iceland sits astride it and why the Atlantic grows by a few centimetres a year.