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So here are my extended thoughts on the #KenyaCrack, or #KenyaGully if you prefer. The narrative that’s going around is that this is a great gash that opened up and is splitting Africa in two. That's incorrect. Africa is being split but very slowly. This is called rifting.
Riting is definitely happening in Africa. This is not really disputed. There is lots of scientific literature on the subject. sp.lyellcollection.org/content/420/1/…
But rifting occurs over a very long period of time, like millions and millions of years.
But rifting occurs over a very long period of time, like millions and millions of years.
Rifting progresses through earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and other geologic forces. Here is an animation showing how the crust thins before it splits. (This example is from the US, but the process is similar)
