Volcanic Activity May Split Africa In Two

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.'

This is old news, decade old news

[G3ckoG33k]

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

Re:This is old news, decade old news

[wisdom_brewing]

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...

Re:So now it's four pieces?

[Anonymous Coward]

Sorites paradox [wikipedia.org]