All articles tagged with #african rift
The African continent is undergoing a significant geological transformation as tectonic forces are splitting the landmass along the Great Rift Valley, potentially leading to the formation of a new ocean, with ongoing seismic activity and plate movements providing valuable insights into Earth's geological processes.
A massive fissure stretching approximately 2,000 miles through southeastern Africa is slowly widening and could eventually split the continent in two, forming Earth's sixth ocean. Known as the Eastern African Rift (EARS), this geological phenomenon is caused by the drifting apart of the Somali and Nubian tectonic plates. While Africa is not expected to completely sever for another five million years, new cracks are appearing, indicating ongoing continental shift. Scientists believe the rift is driven by the African Superplume and heat flow from the asthenosphere. The future course of the continent's tectonic journey remains uncertain.