According to scientists, the giant crack in the afar Triangle, the African Court, will gradually expand, separating East Africa from the rest of the continent and creating a new ocean. What is even more surprising is that this ocean will be located very close to the United States in the near future!
African locality torn in half
The afar Triangle, where the three created areas of Nubia, Somalia and Arabia intersect, is witnessing a historic geological change.
In 2005, a 56-km-long crack appeared in Ethiopia, revealing clear signs of separation. Currently, the Somalia plateau is gradually moving away from the Nubia plateau, stretching the Earth's crust.
Over time, this crack will be submerged by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, forming a new ocean basin. When completed, a completely separate land - including parts of Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Indonesia - will emerge as a giant island, forming the sixth ocean in the world.
What does the US have to do with the new ocean?
Strangely, in the next 5 to 10 million years, the drift of continents could push this new region closer to the Americas. This could create new shipping routes and affect waterways, significantly changing the ocean ecosystem.
Advanced GPS positioning devices and satellite radar technology have helped scientists measure the movement of tectonic plates with incredible accuracy.
Currently, the Arabian Plate is leaving Africa at a rate of 2.5 cm per year, while the African Plate is separating at a slower pace, about 0.5 cm per year.
Although slow on the human timescale, this is an undeniable sign of the Earth's change.
Opportunities and challenges
Although this process is very slow, it can cause great impacts on humans and ecosystems. More than 15 million people in Africa have been displaced by climate change and natural disasters.
If this trend continues, East Africa could face serious geographical changes, from earthquakes, volcanoes, to submerged land.
However, the birth of a new ocean also brings unprecedented economic opportunities. Landlocked countries such as Uganda and Zambia could suddenly own their own borders, opening up potential for trade and port development.
The new ecosystem could create unique marine environments, helping to promote the aquaculture industry and scientific research on the ocean.
In a world that is constantly changing, this event is a clear testament to the power of nature. From the triangle of afar to the buoyant magma launched underground, our Earth is continuing the story of the division of the ocean, continents and human civilization.
