Science
Earth is being ripped apart faster than expected and a new ocean is emerging
The African continent is experiencing a separation which could lead to new coastlines and a ‘new’ Nile.
In recent years, East Africa has been experiencing significant surface fractures due to the separation of two tectonic plates, potentially leading to the formation of a new ocean. One notable event occurred in March 2018, when the Suswa volcano erupted, creating a fissure 50 feet deep, 65 feet wide, and nearly 2 miles long.
Currently, another significant crack can be found in Ethiopia, stretching over 37 miles and reaching depths of up to 33 feet. These occurrences result from the detachment of one of the Earth’s plates, visibly affecting the Rift Valley and gradually causing the Horn of Africa to drift apart. This rift spans approximately 3,100 miles, with widths varying between 19 and 62 miles, and depths ranging from hundreds of feet to several miles.
“We have a continent that’s falling apart”
“Geologically, we have a continent that’s falling apart,” explained Sascha Staubach, Dean of the Department of Geosciences and Geography at Goethe University in Frankfurt. This process is driven by magma flow from the Earth’s interior, which pushes towards the surface, causing the crust to break. If a complete rupture occurs, a new ocean would form as water floods in, creating new coastlines in countries like Zambia and Uganda that previously had none.
In addition to the creation of a new sea, a new island could emerge in the Indian Ocean, comprising parts of Ethiopia and Somalia. The Nile River might also alter its course, potentially flowing into the Indian Ocean instead of the Mediterranean Sea. However, this complete separation could take between 20 and 60 million years, with phenomena like earthquakes potentially accelerating the process.
One of the seas formed by a similar process was the Red Sea, around 25 million years ago. Although this seems like an incredibly long time compared to human life, it is relatively recent in the Earth’s history. This body of water resulted from the separation of the African continent from the Arabian Peninsula, and it continues to expand year by year.
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Original article written by Arianna Villaescusa, translated with the assistance of AI and edited by Joe Brennan.