The Impending Catastrophe: Africa Slowly Splitting into Two Continents

Africa's slow separation into two continents is a geological phenomenon that has been unfolding for millions of years. The East African Rift system, which runs through several African countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi, and Mozambique, is responsible for this colossal breakup. This process will take millions of years to complete, but it will eventually lead to the emergence of a new ocean between the smaller Somalian plate and the larger Nubian plate, and the loss of part of East Africa from the rest of the continent.

In 2018, news of a crack that emerged in Kenya went viral, with many claiming that this was evidence of Africa snapping into two before our very eyes. While this startling scene was related to the East African Rift system, as some scientists reported at that time, this was likely just a highly localized expression of the Valley's regular lifting activity. The East African Rift system has been in this current process for around 25 million years ago, and the crack in Kenya was an indirect whisper of what's occurring on the continent.

The East African Rift system stretches for more than 6,000 km from the Gulf of Aden in the north towards Zimbabwe in the south, dividing the African plate into two parts. The process of plate tectonics involves the constant movement of plates, which either move away from each other, converge or slide past each other. This movement occurs slowly over time, and it is the cause of volcanic activity, earthquakes, and the formation of mountains.

The East African Rift system is an example of divergent plate boundaries, where two plates are moving away from each other. The splitting of the African plate is evident in the formation of two distinct plates, the Somalian and the Nubian plate. The Somalian plate is moving away from the Nubian plate at a rate of about 2.5 cm per year. This movement may seem slow, but over millions of years, it will lead to the separation of the two plates.

The breakup of Africa into two separate continents has significant implications for the planet. The emergence of a new ocean will alter the planet's climate and ecosystems, leading to the extinction of many species. It will also have significant implications for human populations that rely on the affected regions for their livelihoods. The emergence of a new ocean will change the flow of ocean currents, leading to changes in rainfall patterns, and ultimately, affecting agriculture and food production.

The geological story of our planet is constantly unfolding, and we are just a small part of it. The split of Africa into two continents is just one of many geological phenomena that have occurred throughout history. The appearance of the world as we know it is relatively new. The continents that we recognize today, such as Europe, Asia, Africa, Antarctica, the Americas, and Oceania, are products of the vast tectonic plates that slot together like a jigsaw puzzle, very slowly.

Around 138 million years ago, South America and Africa divided, leaving behind two distinct continents. If you look at the west coast of Africa and the east coast of South America, you will notice they fit together like two jigsaw pieces beautifully highlighting how these continents were once joined as one. This departure of East Africa would just be one more page in this giant geological storybook.

Although the geological changes on our planet occur over millions of years, we cannot be complacent. The future of our planet is not certain, but we can do our best to ensure that it's a bright one. We need to take action to mitigate the impact of climate change, prevent deforestation, and protect wildlife habitats. We must also take steps to ensure that our oceans are healthy and free from pollution.