The South Atlantic Ocean opened about 140 million years ago as Africa separated from South America. About the same time, India separated from Antarctica and Australia, forming the central Indian Ocean
It was about 140 million years ago that the Africa and South America split apart. When the Gondwana began to split, Africa and South america also began to split with it! That is how the South Atlantic Ocean was made between Africa and South America.
Addition facts
During the Jurassic period (180 million years ago) the western half of Gondwana was separated from the eastern half of it.
The South Atlantic Ocean opened about 140 million years ago!
The Africa and South America plate drifted apart, forming the Iapetus Ocean.
