**A New Ocean Is Forming in Africa**
Located in the remote Afar region of Ethiopia, the Dabbahu volcano has been making headlines for a strange geological event that took place in 2005. Before the volcano erupted on September 26, the surrounding ground swelled and more than 130 small earthquakes occurred in rapid succession.
The event forced the evacuation of 6,300 people, and large cracks began to appear in the ground, some measuring more than 3 feet wide. Notably, the eruption created a series of fissures that stretched nearly 37 miles, the longest of which – 1,600 feet – was named the Daoo Fissure.
What’s remarkable is that the formation of these fissures was equivalent to hundreds of years of tectonic plate movement, but all of it was done in just a few days. Despite warnings, several people and animals including goats, camels, and donkeys have died after falling into the cracks.
This phenomenon has led scientists to believe that they are witnessing the birth of a new ocean. In the Afar Desert, the Somali, Nubian, and Arabian tectonic plates are separating at a rate of less than an inch per year. It is predicted that in about a million years, this land will separate from Africa, forming a new island and eventually a new ocean.
The process of ocean formation begins when tectonic plates move apart, creating cracks where magma from the Earth’s crust rises, cools, and hardens to form new crust. In this case, researchers have observed enough magma pouring into the cracks to fill 2,000 football stadiums. As the tectonic plates continue to separate, the Red Sea will gradually flow into the rift area, turning it into an ocean.
The formation of an ocean is not only a great geological phenomenon, but also an ecological benefit. Just as when the supercontinent Pangaea broke apart, the new bodies of water would have created conditions for life to thrive. In addition, changes in climate and ecosystems could have improved living conditions in arid regions of Africa.
However, this process is also very slow. While new oceans form, other bodies of water, such as the Mediterranean, may disappear due to the convergence of tectonic plates. But these changes only happen over millions of years – a very long time compared to human lifetimes.
Ultimately, studying changes in Earth’s history not only helps us better understand the future of the planet, but also shows us that everything is cyclical. Life, terrain, and climate will continue to change over time, creating new wonders of nature.
