A new geological study using magnetic data has confirmed that Africa is actively splitting into two separate continents along the East African Rift, a process that began tens of millions of years ago and will take millions more to complete, ultimately forming a new ocean.
According to a new study from Keele University, the African continent is gradually separating into two landmasses, a process that likely started tens of millions of years ago. By analyzing vintage magnetic data, researchers found evidence of ancient seafloor spreading between Africa and Arabia, confirming that the continental rift is slowly progressing “like the zip on a jacket.”
The split is occurring along the East African Rift system, and when complete in five to ten million years, it will create a larger western landmass containing countries like Nigeria and Egypt, and a smaller eastern one with Somalia and Kenya. As one researcher noted, “These findings give a unique perspective on how our planet is constantly changing and shifting right beneath our feet,” highlighting that the rift is moving at a rate of 5-16 mm per year, a pace too slow for humans to notice.