Spanish geologists find a ‘scar’ opening up between two continents: the gap is expanding by 0,02 inches per year

For years, the Gulf of Suez was treated as a “failed rift,” a tectonic fracture thought to have stopped opening millions of years ago after once attempting to form a new ocean. But a recent study published in 2025 in Geophysical Research Letters shows that assumption no longer holds. The fracture separating the African and Arabian plates is still active, albeit at a very slow pace.

Evidence of persistent activity

A team led by geologist David Fernández-Blanco examined roughly 190 miles (about 300 kilometers) of the rift, focusing on topography, river courses, geological faults and ancient coastal terraces. Among the key findings are fossil coral reefs formed when sea levels were high, now sitting 59 to 61 feet (18 to 18.5 meters) above the gulf’s current shoreline. That uplift can only be explained by crustal deformation driven by tectonic activity.

The researchers also identified unusual river-drainage patterns, including stretches with sudden drops or step-like features in fault zones that can’t be attributed to natural erosion but to ground displacement. Together with these topographic and geomorphological clues, they observed raised scarps and recent crustal warping, pointing to active faults.

A slow but continuous separation

Current spreading rates are low – between 0.01 and 0.02 inches per year (0.26 to 0.55 millimeters) – a movement almost imperceptible, slower than a fingernail grows, yet still significant in geological terms. They show the rift isn’t dead; it has simply slowed down.

Beyond rewriting part of the region’s tectonic history, the findings carry practical weight. Ongoing tectonic activity means the area is less stable than previously assumed. Over time, accumulating stress could trigger moderate or strong earthquakes, especially if old faults reactivate.

The discovery also opens the door to rethinking other supposedly “inactive” rifts around the world. Many may simply be in a weak but persistent state of activity, still capable of gradually reshaping the landscape and affecting the stability of their regions.

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