What is the Caledonian orogeny?
Q: What is the Caledonian orogeny?
A: The Caledonian orogeny was a mountain building era.
Q: Where did the Caledonian orogeny leave its mark?
A: The Caledonian orogeny left its mark in the northern parts of the British Isles, the Scandinavian Mountains, Svalbard, eastern Greenland, northern Europe and the eastern United States.
Q: When did the events of the Caledonian orogeny occur?
A: The events of the Caledonian orogeny occurred from the Ordovician to early Devonian, roughly 490–390 million years ago (mya).
Q: What caused the Caledonian orogeny?
A: The Caledonian orogeny was caused by the closure of the Iapetus Ocean when the continents and lands of Laurentia, Baltica and Avalonia collided.
Q: Why is the Caledonian orogeny named as such?
A: The Caledonian orogeny is named after Caledonia, the Latin name for Scotland.
Q: Is the name Caledonian orogeny used for an absolute period of time?
A: No, the name Caledonian orogeny is not used for an absolute period of time. It applies only to the series of mountain-building events.
Q: Where did part of the mountain chain from the Caledonian orogeny end up?
A: Part of the mountain chain from the Caledonian orogeny ended up in modern North America, where it is called the Acadian orogeny (see Appalachian Mountains).
