There could be a sixth ocean on Earth, giving African countries like Zambia and Uganda a coastline of their own, scientists warn.
The formation of Earth's sixth ocean has begun in a geological phenomenon, although it could be millions of years before that process is complete, scientists say.
In recent years, researchers have discovered that the two parts of the African landmass are drifting apart, a process that, if continued, would cause a new ocean to begin forming between them.
The new ocean would cause the African continent to begin splitting in half, with the rift located at the boundaries of the African, Arabian and Somali tectonic plates.
Marine geophysicist and professor from the University of California, Ken MacDonald, speaking about the discovery as a whole, said that "The Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea will flood the Afar region and the Rift Valley of East Africa and become a new ocean ".
