Question: What do fishermen, lifeguards, oceanographers, scuba instructors, and marine archeologists have in common?
Answer: All have pursued careers that allow them to work on, in, or near the ocean. Our captains and crew members at Harbor Breeze Cruises belong on the above list, too, because our company specializes in welcoming people of all ages aboard our daily whale-watching cruises that allow us to sail upon the beautiful Pacific Ocean.
Countless people around the world live near an ocean and rely on that massive body of water to make a living and, in many cases, a positive impact! For people like us, the ocean becomes part of our identities—we feel at home when we’re on it, and our love for our “home ocean” inspires us to care deeply about the other oceans in the world that remain a vital resource to us humans and an invaluable asset to the planet as a whole.
Whether we’re studying the creatures inside it, using its surface to transport goods, or gleefully jumping into its waves near the shore, all the oceans around the world are worth enjoying, appreciating and protecting. It’s also interesting to learn about oceans, which brings us to our latest blog topic: there’s a potential new ocean forming in Africa as we speak.
Before we “dive in” (pun intended!) and begin discussing the new ocean in Africa, let’s review some basic facts about oceans. First and foremost, there are five recognized oceans in the world, and those are the Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern.
According to National Geographic, oceans formed billions of years ago: “The ocean’s water came from rocks inside the newly forming Earth. As the molten rocks cooled, they released water vapor and other gasses. Eventually, the water vapor condensed and covered the crust with a primitive ocean. Today, hot gasses from the Earth’s interior continue to produce new water at the bottom of the ocean.”
Do you remember learning about the earth’s tectonic plates in science class? Tectonic plates are part of the planet’s lithosphere, which is defined as the “rigid outer part” of the earth that consists of its crust and upper mantle.
And how about “Pangea”—does that word ring a bell? American Museum of Natural History explains, “About 200 million years ago, all the continents on Earth were actually one huge ‘supercontinent’ surrounded by one enormous ocean. This gigantic continent, called Pangaea, slowly broke apart and spread out to form the continents we know today.” (And hence the reason the shapes of the continents fit together like a puzzle!)
All this said, Earth’s tectonic plates are responsible for the formation of volcanoes, mountains, earthquakes, and ocean basins. Whether they are colliding, sliding past each other, or pulling apart, their movements and interactions shape the surface of the earth as we know it.
In the case of the new ocean forming in Africa, the tectonic plates are pulling apart.
A new ocean is created over time as tectonic plates continue to pull apart. When this happens, a rift valley forms, widens, and fills with water.
The three tectonic plates pulling apart in Africa are the Nubian African Plate, the Somalian African Plate, and the Arabian Plate. They converge at what is known as the Afar Triangle, or the Afar Depression, a geological formation/depression located within East Africa’s Great Rift Valley.
In addition to rifting (the term used to describe the movement of tectonic plates), new lakes are being formed and volcanic activity is being recorded within the Great Rift Valley. Geologists predict that within 5 to 10 million years, a new ocean—let’s call it the African Ocean, even though it’s not yet officially named—will not only divide the continent but make way for land-locked countries like Uganda and Zambia to have their very own coastlines.
The magazine Down To Earth states that “this new ocean will result in East Africa becoming a separate small continent with its own unique geographic and ecological characteristics.” Furthermore, the African Ocean will be filled with water from the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, which will flood into the Afar region and, therefore, into the East African Rift Valley.
With a new ocean comes exciting opportunities as well as concerning implications. New lakes and rivers will form; new ecosystems will be introduced; weather patterns will most likely be altered. Humans residing on the continent of Africa will have to respond accordingly so they can survive and thrive.
It’s hard to predict the future, of course, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try, especially when it comes to understanding the complexities of geological processes and their potential impacts on the planet and on society.
The potential formation of a new ocean in Africa was brought to the world’s attention back in 2005, when a massive crack was observed within the Afar region—specifically, in a desert in Ethiopia. Scientists and geologists predict that the crack, which spans approximately 40 miles at the time of this writing, is the tangible evidence signaling that the African continent is being separated into what will eventually become smaller landmasses.
Assuming it will be called the African Ocean, this new ocean in Africa will reshape and redefine the geography of not only Africa but also the entire planet. The map of the world as we see it will look much different if this new ocean forming in Africa comes to fruition millions of years from now.
Scientists and geologists are studying the East African Rift not just because they consider it to be a rare geological phenomenon but also because they want to better understand both the benefits and the repercussions of this new ocean in Africa. They won’t see the African Ocean in their lifetimes, of course, but the real-time measurements and observations they can gather with today’s technology will allow them to gain valuable insights into the long-term processes of rifting, plate tectonics, and so much more.
Behind Asia, Africa is the second-biggest continent in the world. The fascinating geological changes taking place in Africa remind us that change is constant—and, on that note, imminent. Just as the earth is spinning at a rate of approximately 1,000 miles per hour, the ground is moving beneath our feet. It’s hard to fathom the depths of the ocean and the vastness of space, but we must acknowledge that we’re not, by any means, living on a stagnant planet.
Our captains and crew members at Harbor Breeze Cruises spend quite a lot of time on the ocean, and that’s one of many reasons why we’re intrigued by this potential new ocean in Africa. Like all geological changes that take place across the earth and its oceans, this new ocean in Africa will be transformative.
Even though the African Ocean is still millions of years away from being fully formed, the potential new ocean in Africa prompts us to be grateful for the oceans we currently have around the world—how they sustain, entertain, and inspire us.
On that note, we hope you’ll join us for a fun and educational whale-watching cruise. You can reserve tickets online or by calling 562-983-6880. On behalf of all our captains and crew members, thank you for supporting Harbor Breeze Cruises and making it possible for us to continue doing what we love best, which is taking you and yours onto the Pacific Ocean for a cruise you won’t soon forget!
