How did Europe rise from ancient seafloor to the Alps? This geology documentary follows the tectonic construction of Europe from its oldest rocks in the Scandinavian Shield to the collisions that built major mountain belts across the continent. Through plate tectonics, thrust faults, vanished oceans, fossils, coal, chalk, and uplifted marine rocks, the film shows how Europe was assembled over hundreds of millions of years.
From Baltica and Laurentia to the opening of the Atlantic and the rise of the Alps, Odyssey of the Continents reveals how ancient seafloor, deep-ocean sediments, and former shorelines now stand high in the mountains. This episode explores subduction, continental collision, erosion, marine life preserved in stone, and the geological forces that continue to reshape Europe today.
Documentary: Odyssey of the continents - Season 1, Episode 1: The Origins of Europe
Director: Christopher Hooke
Production:​ La compagnie des Taxi-Brouss, Ideacom International, ARTE France, CNRS Images & CRRAV (2012)
#geology #europe #tectonics #alps #platetectonics #earthscience #documentary