New Ocean Forming in Africa | Even Scientists Can’t Explain What It Means for the World

### **Africa Is Breaking Apart – The Beginning of a New Ocean**

The African continent is undergoing a major geological transformation. A massive fault system, known as the **East African Rift**, is slowly splitting the eastern part of the continent apart. This could lead to the formation of a new ocean in the next million years, dramatically changing the landscape and ecosystems of the region.

### **Earthquakes and Volcanoes – Signs of Change**

This separation is not a peaceful process, but is accompanied by violent geological phenomena. In September 2005, the **Afar Depression** region of Ethiopia experienced more than **130 earthquakes** in just one week. These earthquakes were not random, but rather a sign that the Earth’s crust was being stretched and cracked.

Then, on September 26, 2005, **Dabbahu volcano** erupted, releasing a large amount of lava onto the surface. The lava flowed out and cracked the ground, forcing thousands of people to evacuate. These cracks not only changed the terrain, but were also direct evidence that the **Somali plate was gradually separating from the Nubian plate**, creating a tectonic boundary that was expanding.

### **East African Fault System – A “Rift” on the Continent**

The East African Fault System extends over **3,000 km** from Ethiopia down to Mozambique. It is one of the largest fault systems in the world, where the Earth is “rewriting the map” of itself.

Currently, this area has many deep cracks, some of which are meters wide. Some areas in the Afar Trench have sunk below sea level, and it is predicted that in a few million years, water from the **Red Sea and Indian Ocean** will flood in, turning this area into a new ocean, similar to the way the Atlantic Ocean formed after the breakup of the supercontinent Pangea.

### **The Movement of Tectonic Plates**

This separation process is the result of the continuous movement of tectonic plates. Specifically:

– **The Nubian Plate (most of Africa)** is moving in a **northwest** direction.

– **The Somali Plate (most of eastern Africa, including Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, and part of Ethiopia)** is moving in a **southeast** direction.

This movement is happening at a rate of **from a few millimeters to a few centimeters per year**, a slow but unstoppable speed. Over time, the rifts will continue to expand, creating an **inland sea**, which will eventually develop into a full-fledged ocean.

### **Long-Term Effects**

This process will not only change the geographic map, but also have a profound impact on the ecosystem and human life:

1. **New terrain formation**: As the land is stretched, many **deep valleys** and **large lakes** will appear. Famous lakes such as **Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi** are the results of this separation process. In the future, some low-lying areas may be flooded, becoming inland seas before merging with the ocean.

2. **Increased volcanic activity and earthquakes**: As the tectonic plates continue to move, **earthquakes and volcanoes** in the area will become more intense. Volcanoes such as **Erta Ale in Ethiopia** or **Ol Doinyo Lengai in Tanzania** will continue to play an important role in the formation of new oceanic crust.

3. **Climatic and ecological changes**: Once a new ocean forms, it will change regional climate patterns, affecting rainfall, humidity, and flora and fauna. Some areas may become more fertile, while others may become drier due to changes in wind direction and ocean currents.

4. **Human adaptation**: Millions of people living in East Africa will face new challenges, from loss of land due to landslides and flooding to economic and environmental disruption. Some areas may become important ports in the future, opening up opportunities for trade and tourism. ### **A Million-Year Journey**

While this process is ongoing, it will take **between 5 and 10 million years** for a full ocean to form. When that happens, the African continent will officially split into two, with a vast sea between them. Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya, and part of Tanzania could become a giant island, separated from the rest of Africa, just as Madagascar separated millions of years ago.

This event is a clear demonstration of how the Earth is **constantly moving and changing**. The formation of a new ocean in East Africa is not just a geological phenomenon, but also a story of transformation, adaptation, and evolution of both nature and humans.