Geological processes are one of the most amazing natural phenomena on Earth. Although a lifetime is not enough to observe the significant displacement of the plates, it is thanks to them that we have continents, oceans, lakes, and mountains. The Earth experiences constant movement. Although sometimes we do not perceive it, there are more visible transformations. Such is the case of the huge crack that is splitting Africa in two; experts say it is the formation of a new ocean basin.
It is impressive how thanks to the subtle movement of these plates, new formations appear; something quite important for our survival. Although we do not notice it, the Earth is in constant transformation. Thus, in a few thousand years, the maps we know will be quite different.
The most significant of these movements, at the moment, is that of the Victoria microplate belonging to the African Plate. A team from the German Geoscience Research Center GFZ revealed that Victoria is rotating in the opposite direction to the continental plate, which will cause the fissure that forms the Great Rift Valley to finally separate from the continent.
An emerging island?
The Great Rift Valley is a geological fracture that extends about four kilometers across the African continent. It starts in the northeastern part of Africa, in what is known as the Afar Depression, and runs south through Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi, and Mozambique.
Research published in Nature Communications revealed that the rift is causing the African Plate to split in two. This is forming two new plates: Nubian and Somali. Experts explain that the interaction of these two plates with Victoria (one of the largest continental microplates on Earth) is resulting in a big crack in Africa, southwest of Kenya.
Thanks to the analysis of 3D numerical models, the researchers realized that, in striking contrast to its neighboring plates, Victoria rotates in the opposite direction. This is causing a highly visible rift in Kenya that is worrying its inhabitants.
When will the continent be separated?
However, experts reported that this process began approximately 25 million years ago. The rate of growth of the rift is not worrying at the moment. Moreover, it will continue to grow by 7 millimeters per year. This means that Africa will be split in two in the next 10 million years. The movement of Victoria will form a new ocean basin, which will eventually create a large island with the remnants of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia.
Text and photos courtesy of Ecoosfera
