Africa is gradually splitting into two separate parts due to the East African Rift, a 56-kilometre crack that appeared in the Ethiopian desert in 2005. Scientists predict that this geological process will eventually result in the creation of a new ocean.

As the Somali and Nubian tectonic plates continue to pull apart from each other, a smaller continent will be created from the rift, which will include present-day Somalia and parts of Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania. The Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea will eventually flood into the Afar region in Ethiopia and the East African Rift Valley, leading to the formation of a new ocean.

Economic Opportunities and Disadvantages

The emergence of new coastlines will unlock a myriad of opportunities for economic growth. These countries will have access to new ports for trade, as well as fishing grounds and sub-sea internet infrastructure, which will undoubtedly transform their economic potential. However, the necessary evacuation of people and the potential loss of lives will be an unfortunate cost of this natural phenomenon. The process of rifting will result in the displacement of communities, settlements, and various flora and fauna.

Environmental Impacts
  • Division of the continent will cause changes in habitats due to climate change, leading to environmental degradation.
  • Rapid urbanization and settlements will lead to pressure on natural resources, resulting in a scarcity of water, energy, and food.
  • Habitat changes will cause some species to disappear while others will become endangered.
  • Separation of the Nubian and Somali plates can cause new faults, fissures, or cracks to form or pre-existing ones to reactivate, leading to seismic activity.
  • Close proximity of the hot molten asthenosphere to the surface can cause volcanism, displaying the ongoing process of continental breakup.
Alternative Theories of Continent Formation
  • The most commonly accepted theory for continent formation is the movement of tectonic plates.
  • Plate tectonic theory originated from Alfred Wegener’s proposal of “continental drift” in 1915.
  • The Earth’s outer layer is the lithosphere, which is rigid and typically about 100 km (60 miles) thick.
  • The lithosphere overlies a plastic layer called the asthenosphere.
  • The lithosphere is broken up into seven large continental and ocean-sized plates, six or seven medium-sized regional plates, and several small plates.
  • These plates move relative to each other at rates of 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 inches) per year.
  • The plates interact along their boundaries by converging, diverging, or slipping past one another.
Evidence of Plate Tectonic Theory

The continents fit together almost like puzzle pieces forming Pangaea (one super-continent). Fossils on different continents are similar to fossils on continents that were once connected. When the continents split, different life forms developed. Most distributions of rocks within Earth’s crust, including minerals, fossil fuels, and energy resources, are a direct result of the history of plate motions and collisions and the corresponding changes in the configurations of the continents and ocean basins.

MCQs on Emergence of a New Ocean in Africa

  1. What is the outer layer of Earth called according to the plate tectonic theory?
    A. Lithosphere
    B. Asthenosphere
    C. Mantle
    D. Core
    Correct Answer: A. Lithosphere
    Explanation: The lithosphere is the outermost, rigid layer of Earth that consists of the continents and oceanic crust. It is typically about 100 km thick and overlies the partially molten asthenosphere.
  2. What did Alfred Wegener propose in 1915?
    A. The theory of plate tectonics
    B. The theory of continental drift
    C. The theory of seafloor spreading
    D. The theory of subduction
    Correct Answer: B. The theory of continental drift
    Explanation: Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of continental drift in 1915, which suggested that the continents were once joined together and have since moved apart. This was an early precursor to the plate tectonic theory.
  3. How do tectonic plates move relative to each other?
    A. Converge, diverge, or slip past one another
    B. Rotate around their axis
    C. Move horizontally across the surface
    D. Expand and contract
    Correct Answer: A. Converge, diverge, or slip past one another
    Explanation: Tectonic plates move relative to each other by converging (moving toward each other), diverging (moving apart from each other), or slipping past one another. These interactions occur along plate boundaries, which can be characterized by different types of geological activity.
  4. What is the typical rate of movement for tectonic plates?
    A. 5 to 10 cm per year
    B. 50 to 100 cm per year
    C. 500 to 1000 cm per year
    D. 5000 to 10000 cm per year
    Correct Answer: A. 5 to 10 cm per year
    Explanation: Tectonic plates typically move at rates of 5 to 10 cm per year. This movement is slow and gradual but can result in significant geological activity over long periods of time.

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