Africa is set to split and create Earth's sixth ocean

Africa is undergoing significant geological changes that hint at its eventual split, a process that will unfold over the course of 50 million years. This prediction is largely based on the ongoing development of the East African Rift System (EARS), which traverses several countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania. The rift represents a significant geological crack in the earth's crust, currently in the process of expanding and deepening. This tectonic activity suggests that the smaller Somalian plate will eventually break away from the larger Nubian plate, resulting in the formation of a new coastline. Historically, the notion of continents shifting apart may seem abstract, but fossil evidence supports the theory that Africa was once joined to South America as part of the supercontinent Pangea, which existed around 230 million years ago. Fossils such as those of the Cynognathus indicate a time when the two landmasses were connected. Presently, the geological forces driving the split are still active. The EARS itself is a remarkable feature born from tectonic and volcanic activities, characterized by a slow-moving process that has spanned 25 million years to reach its current state. In 2018, a notable event in the Kenyan Rift Valley drew attention to this geological phenomenon, as a massive crack was reported amid concerns about its cause—whether it stemmed from tectonic movement or soil erosion. Geologists have debated this, with some attributing the formation to erosion exacerbated by heavy rains, while others see it as an indication of deeper tectonic activities within the Earth's crust. Looking ahead, the eventual geological split is of immense significance not only for the composition of the continent but also for the countries that will undergo transformation. Once the split occurs, nations like Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia, which are currently landlocked, will gain coastlines. The creation of this sixth ocean would dramatically reshape trade and navigation patterns and could alter various ecological and social dynamics in the region, highlighting the profound impact of geological processes on human geography.