A massive crack has appeared in the African continent, leaving scientists stunned and scrambling to understand its implications. Stretching over 35 miles, the giant gash is forcing geologists to rethink their understanding of how continents break apart.
The rift’s sudden appearance has raised concerns about new volcanoes forming as melting Antarctic ice releases over 100 new volcanoes worldwide. The crack’s pace is alarming, with scientists suggesting it could split the continent in just 1-5 million years instead of the previously estimated tens of millions.
This geological drama is unfolding at an unprecedented rate, with satellite measurements and GPS tracking revealing the rapid separation. As the giant crack continues to expand, each small movement brings the continent closer to its eventual split, reshaping maps, creating new coastlines, and giving birth to a new ocean.
The Afar region, where the rift formed, sits at a unique triple junction where three tectonic plates intersect. The Earth’s crust is being pulled apart, creating a depression that could eventually fill with seawater. This phenomenon is part of the larger East African Rift system, driven by a massive plume of superheated rocks.
The implications are vast, affecting entire environments, biodiversity, and geopolitics. New ocean lanes will influence global politics, while animals adapt and evolve to newly available coastal regions. The giant crack in Africa offers geologists a front-row seat to continental shifts, witnessing planetary reshaping in real-time.
Source: https://www.thetravel.com/giant-crack-in-africa-means-continent-breaking-fast