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The oceans of the planet, currently five – Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic and Antarctic – may in the future win a new member. As a result of the East African Rift movement, an active tectonic plate that crosses countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda, a part of the African continent may be separated, creating a new ocean.
According to the publication, this geological phenomenon could release about 10,000 billion gallons of water, dramatically remodeling the geography of the region. “The African continent is undergoing a slow and monumental division due to the movements of the tectonic plates in the Afar triangle. A new ocean may be millions of years from now on, remodeling geography and global ecosystems, ”says the publication.
A large geological phenomenon
The rift system of East Africa, formed by the interaction between the tectonic plates Nubia, Somalia and Arabia, is the epicenter of this process. An example of this activity occurred in Ethiopia, where in 2005 a fissure of 56.3 kilometers was formed, highlighting the progressive separation of the tectonic plates.
If this division is made in the future, the consequences may be deep. Millions of people can be moved, entire cities destroyed and countries affected by the new territorial configuration. This geological transformation could significantly redesign the world as we know it.
Impacts and possible benefits
In addition to challenges, this new ocean can also bring benefits to the region. According to the publication, “a new ocean could unlock economic opportunities for non -coastal nations such as Uganda and Zambia, offering new coastlines, ports and commercial routes that redefine regional trade.”
In addition, this transformation can generate unique marine ecosystems and new opportunities for scientific research, allowing a better understanding of ocean evolution and ecological adaptation.
Despite the magnitude of this event, it is estimated that the complete separation of the African continent and the formation of the new ocean can take millions of years, making this a fascinating but distant phenomenon in time.
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