Imagine for a moment that Africa is torn apart to create a new ocean. That’s exactly what could happen in a few million years.
The African continent is undergoing a spectacular geological transformation. According to experts from the USGeological Survey, the movement of tectonic plates could literally tear apart part of East Africa to create a sixth ocean on our planet.
When Ethiopia takes the sea
The process is already underway in the so-called East African Rift System. The Somali plate is gradually moving away from the rest of the continent, while the Nubian and Arabian plates are following a similar movement. This geological ballet, orchestrated by magma rising from the depths of the earth, is causing a gap of about 0.7 centimetres per year in some areas.
It is estimated that it will take one to 20 million years for the IndianOcean to penetrate this new fault and form an ocean of its own. Of course, none of us will witness this event, but scientists can already predict what will happen.
A geological spectacle that we won’t see tomorrow
For now, the inhabitants of Ethiopia, Djibouti and Eritrea need not worry that their cities will be swallowed up overnight. The process is extremely slow, but its consequences are already visible:
- an increased number of earthquakes in the region
- More frequent volcanic eruptions
- The gradual formation of new valleys
The movements of tectonic plates are responsible for so many natural wonders that we sometimes forget their destructive and creative power.
When continents play hide and seek
These phenomena are not new to our planet. The same forces that pushed the Himalayas into the sky or created the San Andreas Fault in California are also at work in Africa. It’s a fascinating reminder that the Earth is constantly in motion, even if we can’t always see the changes.
The Danakil Desert in Ethiopia, with its camel caravans crossing lunar landscapes, could one day become the edge of a new gulf. What will the world look like when this new ocean is born? How will our descendants see this part of the globe?
Interestingly, the family of oceans was last officially expanded in 2021, when the National Geographic Society recognized the Southern Ocean as a distinct area. Many scientists had considered it as such for decades.
In the meantime, the people of East Africa go about their daily lives, but beneath their feet the Earth is slowly weaving a new geographical map that will one day redefine the world map. A beautiful metaphor for the changes taking place on our planet, don’t you think?