Earth's geography is undergoing dramatic transformations. In Africa, a new ocean is forming in the Afar Triangle, while research suggests North America and Europe may still be a single continent.
Africa's Sixth Ocean
The African continent is splitting apart in the Afar Triangle, where the Nubian, Somali, and Arabian tectonic plates meet. This process, part of the East African Rift system, is expected to lead to the creation of a new ocean basin over the next 5 to 10 million years. The Somali plate is moving away from the Nubian plate, causing the crust to break apart. Eventually, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden may flood the rift valley, separating the Horn of Africa and potentially transforming the region into an archipelago similar to Madagascar.
North America and Europe: A Single Continent?
Dr. Jordan Phethean from the University of Derby suggests that North America and Europe might still be connected. Research indicates that the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates have not fully separated, despite the Atlantic Ocean between them. These plates are still stretching and in the process of breaking apart. The study focuses on Iceland and the Greenland-Iceland-Faroes Ridge (GIFR), revealing they contain geological fragments from both the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. This challenges the traditional belief that the plates completely separated 52 million years ago.
These geological shifts highlight Earth's dynamic nature and challenge established geographical norms. The ongoing research provides insights into the planet's future and its early tectonic plate activity.