A massive crack has been discovered in Africa, spanning Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, dividing these countries. This crack, which has not spared roads, crops, houses, or cities, indicates the possible splitting of the African continent into two parts.
Key Points:
- The crack spans Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, dividing these countries.
- It has yet to spare roads, crops, houses, or cities.
- Parts of the crack are up to 10 meters wide and as thin as 2 millimeters.
- People fill it with soil in some places and build temporary bridges in others.
- Scientists believe the African continent is splitting into two parts.
- The African Plate is breaking, moving away from the African Plate at a rate of about 6 millimetres per year.
- The process could take about 50 million years.
Quick Answers:
Why is Africa’s crack significant?
A: Africa’s crack is significant because it indicates a tectonic plate shift, potentially leading to the continent splitting into two parts over millions of years.
How are people in affected areas responding to the crack?
A: People respond by filling the cracks with soil in some places and building temporary bridges in others, adapting to the changing landscape.
What does the crack reveal about Africa’s geology?
A: The crack reveals that Africa is not on a single tectonic plate, as previously thought, but on a plate that is breaking apart.
How fast is the African continent moving?
A: The African continent is moving away from the African Plate at a rate of about 6 millimetres per year.
What are scientists’ predictions for the future of Africa’s cracking?
A: Scientists believe that whatever happens, whether the continent splits or not, it will take about 50 million years for significant changes to occur.
How does Africa’s cracking compare to past continental shifts?
A: Africa’s cracking is part of the ongoing process of continental drift, where continents have merged and separated over millions of years.
