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Volcanic Rift in Ethiopian Desert Confirmed As Beginning of New Sea

A 35-mile long volcanic rift in the Ethiopian desert that opened up back in 2005 has been confirmed as likely being the beginning of a new sea. … The rift began when Mount Dabbahu erupted, for the first time in recorded history, and in a matter of just three weeks spread to up to 25’ wide along a fault line in the Afar desert. Heading towards the Red Sea, it could eventually split off Eritrea, Djibouti and part of Ethiopia from the rest of the continent. … Rather than opening up in a series of small earthquakes, magma was pushed up in the middle of the rift and the whole thing began “unzipping” in either direction.

(via)