<P> The Cenozoic Era covers the 66 million years since the Cretaceous -- Paleogene extinction event up to and including the present day . By the end of the Mesozoic era , the continents had rifted into nearly their present form . Laurasia became North America and Eurasia , while Gondwana split into South America , Africa , Australia , Antarctica and the Indian subcontinent , which collided with the Asian plate . This impact gave rise to the Himalayas . The Tethys Sea , which had separated the northern continents from Africa and India , began to close up , forming the Mediterranean sea . </P>
<P> The Cenozoic Era covers the 66 million years since the Cretaceous -- Paleogene extinction event up to and including the present day . By the end of the Mesozoic era , the continents had rifted into nearly their present form . Laurasia became North America and Eurasia , while Gondwana split into South America , Africa , Australia , Antarctica and the Indian subcontinent , which collided with the Asian plate . This impact gave rise to the Himalayas . The Tethys Sea , which had separated the northern continents from Africa and India , began to close up , forming the Mediterranean sea . </P>
during which geologic era did earth 's continents come to their approximate present-day locations
during which geologic era did earth 's continents come to their approximate present-day locations
By the end of the Mesozoic era
By the end of the Mesozoic era