Africa is splitting in two, will a new continent be formed?

(CLO) The African land mass is gradually separating due to a tectonic phenomenon. Scientists predict that this could lead to the formation of a new continent and ocean in about 50 million years.

This movement parallels ancient geological shifts in the Earth, such as the fragmentation of the supercontinent Pangaea around 230 million years ago. Fossils such as that of Cynognathus, a prehistoric creature that has been found in both Africa and South America, support theories that the continents were once joined together.

The East African Rift System (EARS), which spans countries such as Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia, is at the heart of this continent's division.

Africa is splitting apart and a new continent will form image 1 — A large crack measuring 15 metres deep and 20 metres wide appeared in Kenya's Rift Valley in 2018. Photo: AFP

Over the past 25 million years, a gradual split has opened in the African tectonic plate, creating two separate pieces: the Nubian Plate to the west and the Somali Plate to the east. Over time, this rift may allow seawater to flow in, forming a new ocean between the separated land masses.

Africa is splitting apart and a new continent will form image 2. — Another image of the fault in Kenya in 2018. Photo: Reuters

Geologist David Adede notes that the East African Rift has a rich history of tectonic and volcanic activity. While surface movement is limited, ongoing shifts deep within the Earth's crust create areas of weakness that could one day rise to the surface.

Africa is splitting apart and a new continent will form, picture 3. — Here's what Africa might look like in millions of years. Graphic: GI

Researcher Stephen Hicks attributes the formation of a noticeable rift in Kenya to soil erosion from recent rains, suggesting the development may not be directly related to tectonic forces. However, Lucía Pérez Díaz admits that the seismic activity could be related to a fault line within the rift zone, although its exact cause remains under investigation.

Africa is splitting apart and a new continent will be formed, picture 4. — In the vast deserts of Ethiopia, a remarkable phenomenon has been quietly unfolding since 2005 – a 35-mile-long rift known as the East African Rift. Photo: Reuters

According to National Geographic, Africa's future could include a new land mass, with the Somali Plate drifting away from the Nubian Plate, forming a land mass similar to Madagascar. While this transition will take millions of years, the evolving landscape of East Africa will continue to fascinate geologists, and could reshape the Earth's geography.