• Question: There isn't a plate boundary through the middle of Africa, so why are there volcanoes there and why is the rift valley forming?

    Asked by 08wjarvis to Ailsa, Evan, James, Kath, Ryan on 21 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Ailsa Powell

      Ailsa Powell answered on 21 Jun 2011:

      I’m not a geologist, but I think the reason for this is that a new plate boundary is being formed and the rift valley is the start of that process. I’m not sure if anyone knows why it’s happening at this point – if there was some kind of weakness in the crust or something.

    • Photo: Evan Keane

      Evan Keane answered on 21 Jun 2011:

      Yes it is because the African plate is splitting in two along this rift valley. As to why, I am not sure. Perhaps the other plates are pushing against the African plate in such a way as to make it happen. I’ll see if I can find a geologist to help. 🙂

    • Photo: Ryan Ladd

      Ryan Ladd answered on 21 Jun 2011:

      I think what Ailsa said is correct. It’s a really interesting subject though, hard to imagine that, if it is splitting, that the area will, one day, become a new ocean!

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