An increasingly prominent large rift in Africa has long intrigued scientists, and now they’ve determined what’s going on beneath it.
For several years now, researchers have realized that the two landmasses – which make up the world’s second largest and second most populous continent – have begun to separate and by the end of 2022, people saw a large crack in the middle.
And now, according to the journal Geophysical Research Letters, geologists have confirmed that an ocean is forming underneath , as Africa is splitting in two. As such, countries that are completely inland such as Zambia and Uganda may one day have their own coastlines.
Scientists have also identified the exact point – very deep underground – where the continent begins to split in two.
Great rift in Africa. (Photo: SOT).
The Great Fault in Africa lies on the boundary of three tectonic plates, which are gradually separating from each other. It is not known if this is one of the reasons for the earthquake disaster in Türkiye and Syria last month. The reason why the tectonic plates move away from each other is thought to be because of the hot climate.
The fault is now known as the East African Rift , and is now 35 miles (56.3km) long.
Part of Africa will split and a new ocean is being created. (Photo: SOT).
Of course, the movement of land is usually very slow, and researchers have to use GPS tools to get accurate measurements. According to Ken Macdonald, a geophysicist and emeritus professor at the University of California (USA), in the future, a part of East Africa will become a small continent of its own. At that time, there will be a new ocean on Earth , but it is unknown what it will be named.