In 2005, the earth cracked open in Ethiopia. Two volcanic eruptions shook the desert, and a 35-mile-long rift opened in the land, measuring 20 feet wide in some places. Now a new study adds weight to the argument that the opening of this crack marks the first step in the formation of a new sea that may eventually separate East Africa from the rest of the continent. Says lead researcher Atalay Ayele: “The ocean’s formation is happening slowly, likely to take a few million years. It will stretch from the Afar depression (straddling Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti) down to Mozambique” [ABC News].
The study, to be published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, explains that the seismic movements observed in Ethiopia are very similar to the changes wrought by faults and fissures on the seafloor, where the processes that move tectonic plates usually begin.
Seismic data from 2005 shows that the rift opened in a matter of days. Dabbahu, a volcano at the northern end of the rift, erupted first, then magma pushed up through the middle of the rift area and began “unzipping” the rift in both directions, the researchers explained in a statement today. “We know that seafloor ridges are created by a similar intrusion of magma into a rift, but we never knew that a huge length of the ridge could break open at once like this” [LiveScience], says study coauthor Cindy Ebinger.
The active volcanic region in Ethiopia’s Afar desert sits at the boundary of the African and Arabian tectonic plates, which have been gradually spreading apart for millions years; the new study shows that large-scale seismic events can speed up that process. The gradual separation has already formed the 186-mile Afar depression and the Red Sea. The thinking is that the Red Sea will eventually pour into the new sea in a million years or so [LiveScience].
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Image: University of Rochester
November 4th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Stop Plate Tectonics!
November 4th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
There’s a hypothesis that the Great Rift Valley in East Africa may have dramatically affected the local climate and played a direct role in human evolution. Plate tectonics rule.
http://www.agiweb.org/geotimes/sept05/feature_humanclimateevolution.html
November 4th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
That is the exact place where Dinknesh, Ardi and Idaltu were found. That is where humans were incubated.
November 4th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
We are experiencing part of evolution.
November 5th, 2009 at 2:48 am
So, this means that East african countries will be separated and formed as an island in a million years?
November 5th, 2009 at 10:00 am
I believe that the new cracks discovered here are part
of the early stages of the Polar Shift and Earth Changes that’s been predicted
many years ago and this may be another important piece of evidence ,
of a foretold prophecy coming into play.
The news of the discovery just about coincides with the
upcoming premiere of the prophecy-based movie, “2012″.
Increased geological activity would speed up the process
of the continental split.
Meanwhile, this is the perfect time to for geologists to
gather as much data possible for further research.
November 6th, 2009 at 1:46 am
Finally, ethiopia is going to have a sea port !
Big ships..get ready to doc at the port of denknesh.
November 7th, 2009 at 4:28 am
you must be kidding me, it is a pitty w are not there to witness it. i really would love to see it.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Thank God no one blamed the crack on mans impact on this world. Every other global change has been traced to my deodorant can or a cow fart. It’s all part of an ever changing world. Just experience it, don’t analyze it. Nothing is forever.
November 8th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Not one scientist will recommend draining the oil from your automobile engine and then driving it ! If you do , the outcome is a definate blow out . Before this happens , cracks (fault lines) appear in the engine block’s metal prior to it’s eruption . Our auto engines are just like our Earth and visa-versa , both need/use this oil for the very same reason , coolant and lubrication . The depletion of oil from the Earth is having the same effect as it does on your automobile engine . A dormant volcano now active . A crack 35 miles long in 2 days , another eruption or major quake could open another 1000 miles just as quick . As is , many new cracks are being found with each journey to this area . This event has just begun . 100000 years maybe but could happen tommorrow . Let’s hope no scientist gets the bright idea of sending a rocket down into this crack ! Anyone remember this old movie ?
November 15th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
elllllllllllllllllllll finally god will give as sea port wat we lost in man made teritory
November 20th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Ethiopia will no longer be a landlock country…..assuming that there will be things called countries when it happens.
November 29th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
the earth has already started its change with catrina, the out brake of harricans, landslides, earthquakes, eradic weather, valcanos acting up, even activity at yellowston national park off and on. its not the end of the world yet just the begining of the evolving. but it if we all can get our heads out of our butts and and our hand out of the money jar and work together it wont be the end of the world but but a new begining of life and history.
March 24th, 2010 at 8:04 am
guess time to strategically buy land on projected new coastal cities anyone have a map heloo
November 5th, 2010 at 1:21 am
The world is changing very first. All this happened in three days if another eruption occurs won’t this crack become dipper and wider?
And i want to know isn;t there water in this crack from springs and rain? Scientist should guide the people along this crack just in case the volcano errupts again.
December 20th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
Well this area kinda looks like the United States which leads me to believe the U.S. could be in the early stages of Ethiopia?