Africa's New Ocean: A Continent Splits Apart

Spiegel ^ | 03/15/2006 | Axel Bojanowski

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Normally new rivers, seas and mountains are born in slow motion. The Afar Triangle near the Horn of Africa is another story. A new ocean is forming there with staggering speed -- at least by geological standards. Africa will eventually lose its horn.

Geologist Dereje Ayalew and his colleagues from Addis Ababa University were amazed -- and frightened. They had only just stepped out of their helicopter onto the desert plains of central Ethiopia when the ground began to shake under their feet. The pilot shouted for the scientists to get back to the helicopter. And then it happened: the Earth split open. Crevices began racing toward the researchers like a zipper opening up. After a few seconds, the ground stopped moving, and after they had recovered from their shock, Ayalew and his colleagues realized they had just witnessed history. For the first time ever, human beings were able to witness the first stages in the birth of an ocean.

[ClearCase_guy]

This is what happens when Karl Rove cranks the machine up to "11".

[2banana]

Africa will eventually lose its horn.

And Africans and liberal whites will blame the era of evil colonization for this...

[muawiyah]

ROTF

[Outland]

It's global warming and Bush's fault.

[TChris]

This is what happens when Karl Rove cranks the machine up to "11".

LOL!

[Humvee]

Way cool, dudes.

[poobear]

"A crevice in the Afar Triangle signals the birth of an ocean. In ten million years this ocean will split the African continent."

Interesting phenomenon until I read that part. A lot of things will change in 10 MILLION years

[Gefreiter]

Well, the Left has 10 million years to decide how to blame this event on GW Bush.

[kayak]

Thought you might find this interesting.

[Galveston Grl]

This will be liberalism's revised history on the Horn of Africa:

Bush sunk the Horn of Africa into the sea because he did not accept "settled science" and give the UN that evironmental, global taxation treaty called Kyoto. Because Bush did not heed the advice of liberals worldwide, the cap ice melted and flooded the Horn of Africa. It is going to flood everyone soon so we better vote for liberals if we want to live and shut up and give the UN our money.

[Young Werther]

Well maybe if Africa's less horny then maybe we can get AIDS, (Africa Is Doin' Splits), under control!

[riker7]

According to algore, the earth is going to be destroyed in less than 10 years. NASA says the sea levels are going to begin rising soon. At least I won't have to drive so far to get to the beach.

[Rezod21]

"Geophysicists have calculated that in 10 million years the East African Rift System will be as large as the Red Sea. When that happens, Africa will lose its horn. "

I was all intrigued until I read the final line. Yep just around the corner.

[zeugma]

A lot of things will change in 10 MILLION years

Do you think Africa can join the civilized world by then?  I figure 5M years after that, the arabs will too.

[tx_eggman]

Geophysicists have calculated that in 10 million years the East African Rift System will be as large as the Red Sea

Wonder if I'll live to see it?

[dirtboy]

The Afar triangle is one of the two places in the world where a mid-ocean rift comes up onto dry land (Iceland is the other).

There are photos there where ridges and valleys resembling downdropped grabens closely resemble the peaks and valleys of mid-ocean ridges.

[driftless]

"Rove"

dang, beat me to it. But you left out Cheney and Halliburton.

[pas]

For now they have the beach. Just the main ingredient in an ocean. WATER

[Suzy Quzy]

Too bad interesting news like this doesn't get any attention. Color me wierd but I find this fascinating!