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Africa is breaking apart: a new ocean in the middle of the continent

Africa is breaking apart: a new ocean in the middle of the continent

The African continent is gradually splitting from within, and scientific conclusions about this continue to be repeatedly confirmed. According to the latest analyses by British geologists, this process may in the future change the entire geographical landscape of the continent and lead to the formation of a completely new ocean in its center.

Researchers from Keele University observed the separation occurring between the African and Arabian plates through changes in the magnetic field. According to them, the split is deepening from the northeast toward the south and is accompanied by increasing seismic activity — earthquakes.

Scientists emphasize that this process is not something that will happen “tomorrow” and in reality requires millions of years. However, according to forecasts, in approximately 5–10 million years Africa may divide into two major parts.

On one side will remain territories including Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Ghana, and Namibia, while on the other a new geological zone is expected to form, consisting of Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and a large portion of Ethiopia.

The scientific community notes that while this process will not occur within humanity’s lifetime, it will bring significant changes in the history of geology.

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