Scientists gobsmacked as new data reveals Africa is splitting in two
It seemingly started tens of millions of years ago
One of the world's largest continents is actually splitting in half over time, as scientists are left gobsmacked by a new study that reveals a rift through Africa that's been forming for tens of millions of years.
The world has changed drastically since the days of supercontinents and Pangea, as continents have split off into their own areas across the planet to form what we know as Earth today.
While you might see it as its 'final' form, new revelations discovered by a group of scientists have revealed that a major new change could be on the horizon, as a massive rift appears to be forming that would tear Africa in two.
As reported by the Daily Mail, the study was conducted by scientists at Keele University, as they were able to miraculously and shockingly identify a geological separation that's ongoing between Africa and Arabia.
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It appears to be originating from the continent's north east section, and continues down through the south as if it were a zip on a jacket, bringing along with it volcanic and seismic activity.
Thankfully it's not estimated to have any meaningful effect on the world's second largest continent for another five or ten million years so we'll all be obviously long by then, but who know if any effects might emerge in the time being.
"These findings give a unique perspective on how our planet is constantly changing and shifting right beneath our feet," explains Professor Peter Styles, who is an Emeritus Professor of applied and environmental geophysics at Keele University.
In terms of how the split would actually take form, a larger landmass would sit on the western side encompassing most of Africa as we know it right now, with countries such as Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Ghana, and Namibia staying here.
Whereas, a new section that separates itself to the east will include nations like Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and even a large part of Ethiopia, with the rest remaining on the west.
The study itself puts its focus on the East African Rift, which is one of the continent's tectonic features and originated when the Earth's crust was fractured millions or billions of years ago.
They studied an area known as the Afar region, which is where the Red Sea meets the Gulf of Aden, and its known as a triple junction due to the intersection of three tectonic rifts, and we're now seeing the early stages of the splitting process right here.