Why Africa is Splitting ?

A massive crack has been spotted in Africa, stretching across Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania. Drone shots and on-ground footage show an enormous rift dividing entire regions. This crack doesn’t care about roads, crops, homes, or cities—parts of it are up to 10 meters wide, while others are just 2 millimeters thin.

In some places, people tried filling the crack with soil, and in others, temporary bridges were built. Initially, people thought it was just loose soil settling. But scientists say otherwise—Africa is literally splitting in two.

The African Enigma

When we hear the word Africa, we might picture endless deserts and intense heat. And while it’s true that Africa is the hottest continent, it's also home to extreme cold—temperatures have dropped to -23°C in parts like Ifan.

Positioned right at Earth’s center, where the equator and prime meridian intersect, Africa is a land of extremes—from scorching deserts to lush jungles, from extreme poverty to unimaginable wealth.

A Land of Contrasts

• Africa hosts 10 of the world’s poorest countries, yet also holds the richest mineral reserves.
• In 2000, Libreville, Gabon, was declared the most expensive city on Earth—surpassing Paris, New York, and Singapore.
• Mogadishu, Somalia is ranked as the most dangerous city in the world.
• While 40% of Africa’s population is illiterate, the world’s oldest university is in Timbuktu, Mali, founded 800-900 years ago, once hosting 25,000 students when the entire city's population was just 100,000.
• Africa also has the highest twin birth rate in the world—50 out of every 1,000 births. But tragically, 1 in 14 newborns dies before reaching home.

Fast Feet, Fierce Fights, and Forgotten Facts

In 2010, Kenyan runners won 126 of 156 international marathons, many belonging to the Kalenjin tribe—still a mystery to sports scientists.

The world’s shortest war took place in Africa—just 38 minutes between Britain and Zanzibar in 1896.

Egypt is famous for pyramids, but Sudan actually has more—over 250 pyramids, though smaller and lesser-known.

The Truth About the Map

On world maps, Africa looks small, but this is an illusion. Africa is 30 million square kilometers—larger than the U.S., China, India, and most of Europe combined. The distortion comes from trying to flatten a spherical Earth onto a flat surface, like stretching tape off a tennis ball.

The Rift That Could Split a Continent

In 2018, a crack emerged that shocked scientists. For years, geologists knew the African tectonic plate was splitting, but no one expected visible signs so soon. Now, a huge part of East Africa is breaking off—from the Red Sea to Mozambique, moving away at about 6 millimeters per year.

What will happen? Scientists aren’t sure. A new ocean may form, or a separate island might emerge—or it might stop altogether. Either way, the process will take tens of millions of years.

Africa’s Hidden Power Beneath the Ground

Beneath Africa lies a third of the planet’s natural resources. For any rare mineral search, scientists look to Africa first. For example:

• Coltan, a vital metal used in electronics, is 80% sourced from Africa.
• Bauxite, used in aluminum production, is also mined here.
• The world's most valuable gemstone—diamond—is primarily mined in Africa.

The Sahara – More Than Just a Desert

The Sahara Desert holds enough secrets to rival the rest of Africa combined:

• The Eye of the Sahara is a massive, mysterious 40-km-wide structure visible from space.
• A unique gemstone found in King Tutankhamun’s necklace—found nowhere else on Earth—comes from the Sahara.

Incredibly, Sahara’s dust travels thousands of kilometers, fertilizing the Amazon Rainforest.

Was Africa Always Like This?

Geologists say every 500 million years, Earth's tectonic plates merge all continents into one supercontinent. The last one, Pangaea, began breaking apart 200 million years ago. Fossil records and geological evidence show that South America and Africa were once connected—like puzzle pieces.

So, could Africa split again? Is this the beginning of a new supercontinent breakup? Only time will tell.

Final Thoughts

What we’re witnessing is not just science—it’s history unfolding beneath our feet. Africa isn’t just the cradle of civilization—it's the stage of Earth's next big transformation.