Here’s What You Missed on New Ocean Forming in Africa, And It’s Bad

The East African Rift is one of the most fascinating and dynamic geological phenomena on Earth. Stretching thousands of kilometers from the Afar region in Ethiopia down to Mozambique in the south, this massive fracture in the Earth’s crust is reshaping the very landscape of East Africa. The Rift marks a developing boundary where two tectonic plates, the Somali Plate to the east and the Nubian Plate to the west, are slowly drifting apart. Although the movement is slow—only about 6 to 7 millimeters per year—the forces at play are immense, and the long-term effects could be world-changing.

The Rift System: A Complex Network

The East African Rift isn’t a simple crack in the ground, but rather a complex system of faults, fractures, and smaller basins that interact in intricate ways. The rift is divided into two main branches: the Eastern Rift, which stretches from Ethiopia through Kenya and into Tanzania, and the Western Rift, also known as the Albertine Rift, which runs through Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Burundi. The landscapes in these regions are dramatic, with deep valleys, towering cliffs, and vast rift valley lakes like Tanganyika and Malawi.

Near Ethiopia, the rift reaches the Afar Triple Junction, where three tectonic plates—the African, Somali, and Arabian plates—meet and begin to pull apart. This region, where three plates are actively splitting, is one of the most geologically active and provides a rare opportunity to witness continental drift up close.

The Afar Depression: A Geohazard in Motion

A key area of interest within the Rift is the Afar Depression, located in northern Ethiopia. Here, the land is sinking as the plates pull apart. This is where some of the most dramatic seismic events in recent history have occurred. In 2005, a powerful tectonic shift in the region provided scientists with a rare glimpse into the forces that drive continental drift. The ground split open by as much as 26 feet, with sections of land sinking by up to 5 feet, and volcanic eruptions spewed ash and molten rock into the sky. This event demonstrated the rapid rate at which tectonic movements can occur, with shifts that typically take years unfolding in just a matter of weeks.

The Afar Depression is particularly significant because, unlike most tectonic rifts that occur deep beneath the ocean, this one is happening on land. As the plates separate, magma from beneath the Earth’s crust is being pushed to the surface, creating new landforms and volcanic activity. Between 2005 and 2010, researchers documented 13 magmatic events in the region, each contributing to the ongoing transformation of the landscape.

Earthquakes and Volcanic Activity: Warning Signs of a New Ocean

The geological forces at work in the East African Rift are not just causing subtle shifts in the landscape. Recent earthquakes, such as those that rattled the region near the Fentale Volcano in Ethiopia, have raised concerns about the potential for future eruptions. These quakes, which ranged in magnitude from 4.3 to 5.1, could signal that magma is pushing its way toward the surface. If true, the risk of a volcanic eruption increases significantly. Fentale Volcano, which was last active in the 19th century, has a history of eruptions, and the recent seismic activity in the area may be an indication that it could soon awaken.

Monitoring the region’s seismic activity is challenging, as Ethiopia has fewer seismic instruments compared to other earthquake-prone regions like California or Japan. Nonetheless, scientists use cutting-edge technology such as satellite imagery, GPS data, and ground reports to track shifts in the landscape in real time. These tools allow them to detect subtle changes, such as the movement of magma beneath the surface, and improve their understanding of the forces shaping the East African Rift.

The Rift in Kenya: A Visible and Growing Crack

In Kenya, the East African Rift is even more visible. In March 2018, a massive crack appeared near Maai Mahiu, west of Nairobi. The fissure, which stretched for miles and was more than 50 feet deep in places, appeared almost overnight, tearing through homes and severing major highways. Initially, scientists speculated that heavy rainfall had simply exposed an older fault line, but closer investigation revealed that this was part of the ongoing expansion of the Rift.

This crack, like others in the region, is a clear sign that the land is slowly being torn apart. The Somali Plate, which includes Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, is gradually drifting away from the African continent. Over time, this will create new valleys and lakes, and eventually a new ocean will form, splitting the Somali Plate from the rest of Africa. However, the process is incredibly slow—scientists estimate it will take about 50 million years for the plates to fully separate, but the effects are already visible in the form of widening rifts and deepening cracks.

The Future of the East African Rift: Birth of a New Ocean

The ultimate outcome of this geological process is the creation of a new ocean in East Africa. The Afar Depression, which is already below sea level, is expected to be the first region to flood as sea water slowly seeps in. Scientists estimate that within the next 5 to 10 million years, a new ocean will emerge, separating the Somali Plate from the Nubian Plate. This new ocean will change the geography of the region, and possibly the world, forever.

In the short term, however, the residents of East Africa are living in a region that is undergoing significant geological change. With millions of people living near the Rift, especially in areas close to volcanoes like Fentale, the risks are real. Authorities are closely monitoring the region for potential volcanic eruptions or earthquakes, and many communities in the Rift Zone have been urged to remain alert for possible evacuations.

As the East African Rift continues to grow and reshape the landscape, it serves as a stark reminder of the immense and often unpredictable forces at work beneath the Earth’s surface. While the formation of a new ocean may seem like a distant event, the signs of change are already visible today, making the East African Rift one of the most compelling and awe-inspiring geological phenomena on the planet.