What geological process is happening in Ethiopia's Afar region?

Africa is splitting apart in the Afar region, forming a Y-shaped rift system that will eventually create a new ocean over millions of years.

How fast is Africa splitting apart?

The continent is splitting very slowly, with rifting rates around 15 millimeters per year or even slower, taking millions of years to form a new ocean.

What significant fossil discoveries have been made in Afar?

A 2.6-million-year-old fossil of 'Nutcracker Man' and hominin teeth dating back 2.6 to 2.8 million years have been found, revealing insights into early human relatives.

Home / Science / Continent Splits: Ethiopia's Slow-Motion Breakup

Continent Splits: Ethiopia's Slow-Motion Breakup

16 Mar

•

Summary

Africa is slowly splitting apart in Ethiopia's Afar region.
A Y-shaped rift system is forming a new ocean basin.
Geological processes occur over millions of years, not days.

Continent Splits: Ethiopia's Slow-Motion Breakup

The continent of Africa is undergoing a significant geological transformation in the Afar region of Northern Ethiopia. Here, a Y-shaped rift system is gradually pulling the landmass apart, a process that scientists predict will eventually lead to the formation of a new ocean basin. This continental rifting is driven by the divergence of three tectonic plates: the Main Ethiopian Rift, the Gulf of Aden Rift, and the Red Sea Rift.

Researchers emphasize that this geological event unfolds over millions of years, contrasting with the rapid doomsday scenarios depicted in popular films. The rifting rates are extremely slow, with some areas moving at approximately 15 millimeters per year and others even slower at around 5 millimeters annually. This gradual process provides scientists with an invaluable opportunity to study continental rifting as it happens, offering insights normally hidden beneath the sea.