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Volcanic Activity May Split Africa In Two

Posted by samzenpus on from the spit-up dept.

An anonymous reader writes 'Volcanic activity may split the African continent in two, creating a new ocean, say experts. This is due to a recent geological crack which has appeared in northeastern Ethiopia.'

3 of 170 comments (clear)

  1. This is old news, decade old news by G3ckoG33k · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This has been in the school books since 1970s, at least. For starters - look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Rift_Valley and then do a Google search for "Rift Valley"

    1. Re:This is old news, decade old news by wisdom_brewing · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Do you know where youd get a topological map for that area?

      Assuming verical cliff walls surrounding the dead sea and digging a canal to it would lower world sea levels by ~1.95mm - in reality would be a lot more (810sq km surface area, 422m below "sea" level), doing likewise with the Caspian sea (28 metres below "sea" level and >300,000sq km surface area) would drop world sea levels by ~6cm.

      That basin has a trough of around 155m below sea level - in Djibouti (neighbouring Ethiopia) I believe - only 125m in Ethiopia. I assume the area would be huge, maybe get a couple dozen cm of respite with that...

      --
      I am very sucseptible to "let's have another drink"
  2. Re:So now it's four pieces? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Sorites paradox