What is the carboniferous period?

The Carboniferous Period is a time in Earth’s history, around 359 to 299 million years ago, when large forests formed and much of today’s coal was created. This period is part of the Paleozoic Era and is known for its lush vegetation, swampy forests, and the first large land animals. The name “Carboniferous” comes from the Latin word "carbon" meaning coal, because many coal beds were formed during this time.

Key Features of the Carboniferous Period

• Coal Formation: Huge tropical forests covered much of the land. When trees and plants died, they fell into swamps and decayed slowly. Over millions of years, heat and pressure turned this plant material into coal.
• Climate: The climate was warm and humid. There were no ice caps, and much of the Earth had tropical weather.
• Plants: This period saw the rise of giant ferns, club mosses, and horsetails. These plants grew very tall and thickly packed in swampy areas.
• Animals: The first winged insects appeared, as well as large amphibians. Some of these amphibians eventually evolved into early reptiles.

Why It Is Important

• The coal we use today for energy mostly came from this period.
• The Carboniferous forests helped increase oxygen levels in the atmosphere, supporting the evolution of larger animals.
• This time laid the foundation for future changes in Earth’s climate and biodiversity.