Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Desert Rift Creating New African Sea—Slowly

Crack created by volcanic eruption will eventually meet with Red Sea

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 3, 2009 2:14 PM CST

(Newser) – Africa is getting a new ocean—in a million years, give or take. It's starting with a 35-mile rift in the Ethiopian desert caused by the eruption of a volcano in 2005. The rift will eventually meet with the Red Sea, allowing the waters to spill in, say scientists. The process is a small part of the separation of the African and Arabian tectonic plates, which have been moving away from one another at a rate of 1 inch per year for 30 million years, LiveScience reports.

A map of Ethiopia. In a million years, waters will spill into a newly-formed rift, creating a new sea perpendicular to the red sea.
A map of Ethiopia. In a million years, waters will spill into a newly-formed rift, creating a new sea perpendicular to the red sea.   (Wikimedia commons)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
WiteOut
Nov 4, 2009 12:07 PM CST
Finally something NOT caused by "Global Warming"
Yourself
Nov 4, 2009 1:21 AM CST
no, but i bet another eruption would speed things up a little too. lol
riffran
Nov 3, 2009 11:25 AM CST
hmmmmm one well placed line of nukes....instant sea front he he he he

More Newser Stories

US Flying Armed Drones Out of Ethiopia Base

Ethiopia: 4.5M Need Food Aid

Africa Rapidly Breaking in Two

Geldof Enraged by Report That Live Aid Paid for Weapons

To Battle Climate Change, Look Toward Africa


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne