Australia’s movement northwards due to plate tectonics is happening at a rate of 2.8 inches per year, equivalent to the growth of fingernails. Over millions of years, this gradual shift could result in catastrophic consequences, including earthquakes, new mountain ranges, and dramatic landscape changes.
Scientists warn that Australia will eventually collide with Asia, triggering seismic activity and altering coastlines. This movement has already caused issues, such as disrupting GPS coordinates by nearly 6 feet, which led to a recalculation of official maps in 2016.
The impact on unique Australian species like koalas and wombats could be severe, as they may struggle to compete with Asian predators, potentially leading to mass extinctions or forced adaptation. Moreover, the drift of Australia’s movement poses risks to navigation systems, including autonomous cars, aviation, and satellite mapping, which could become dangerously inaccurate if left unchecked.
Geologists believe that all continents will eventually merge again, forming a supercontinent as they have in past geological cycles. The unstoppable process of plate tectonics is reshaping coastlines, ecosystems, and human infrastructure for millions of years to come.
Source: https://www.businesstoday.in/visualstories/news/moving-2-8-inches-a-year-australia-is-creeping-towards-a-catastrophic-crash-with-asia-211941-24-02-2025