Massive Rift Splitting Africa, May Form Earth's Sixth Ocean

Scientists say the rift in northeast Ethiopia could lead to the continent splitting in two over the next few million years.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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A massive rift has opened up in northeast Ethiopia, cleaving the land in two and creating a fissure nearly 40 miles long and up to 25 feet wide. Geologists say this is the first known example of such a dramatic continental rift occurring on land, rather than on the seafloor. The rift is part of the larger East African Rift System, and scientists believe it could eventually lead to the formation of a new ocean, splitting Africa into two continents.

Why it matters

The Afar Depression, where the rift is located, is one of the most geologically active regions on Earth, with high rates of volcanic activity and magma production. The rapid separation of the continental plates in this area could have significant implications for the future geography of Africa and the emergence of a new ocean.

The details

In September 2005, the ground in northeast Ethiopia suddenly split open, creating the Dabbahu Fissure. Over just a few days, the continental plates were pushed apart by up to 25 feet, an event that normally takes centuries. This dramatic rifting was caused by a mantle plume of magma pushing up against the surface. Since then, there have been 13 more similar but less severe rifting events in the region, with the plates continuing to move apart at a rapid pace.

  • In September 2005, the Dabbahu Fissure opened up in northeast Ethiopia.
  • Over the following five years, there were 13 more rifting events similar to but less severe than the 2005 incident.
  • The plates in the region have since slowed back down to their normal separation speed.

The players

Cynthia Ebinger

A geologist at Tulane University who has studied the Afar Depression and the East African Rift System.

Afar Depression

A remote region in northeast Ethiopia that is one of the most geologically active areas on Earth, with high rates of volcanic activity and magma production.

East African Rift System (EARS)

A network of rifts and valleys caused by the fracturing of the Earth's crust, extending from Jordan to the coast of Mozambique.

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What they’re saying

“We had never seen something like this. This kind of thing happens regularly on the seafloor, but it was the first known example on land.”

— Cynthia Ebinger, Geologist, Tulane University (Popular Mechanics)

What’s next

Scientists predict there will be more dramatic rifting events in the Afar Depression, perhaps once every 50 or 100 years, as the land continues to split apart. If the rifting continues, the Afar Depression could fall below sea level and be flooded, potentially forming a new ocean in a few hundred thousand years.

The takeaway

The rapid rifting in the Afar Depression is a rare and dramatic example of continental breakup, providing scientists with a unique opportunity to study the processes that lead to the formation of new oceans. This event highlights the dynamic and ever-changing nature of the Earth's surface, and the powerful geological forces that are constantly shaping our planet.