
These movements are also widening the southern end of the Red Sea. Scientists estimate that the movement began occurring last September when a series of earthquakes began to split Earth's surface near Afar, Ethiopia. This 37-mile section of the East African Rift was visible on satellite images from the European Space Agency's Envisat spacecraft.
Scientists also speculate that if the crack reaches Red Sea then a new Ocean could be carved up separating Eritrea and part of Ethiopia from the African continent.
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