The planet is constantly changing its appearance, though we barely notice it. Massive tectonic plates are moving slowly yet inexorably beneath our feet. Their collisions and shifts shape mountains, oceans, and even entire continents. Sometimes these processes lead to disasters, but most often they occur so gradually that they remain invisible within a human lifetime.
The Strait of Gibraltarβa narrow strip of water separating Europe and Africaβcould disappear in the distant future. Recent studies have shown that tectonic activity in this region has not ceased, contrary to previous beliefs. On the contrary, scientists are convinced that the process of subduction, when one plate slides beneath another, may resume in tens of millions of years.
Plate movement
In the Gibraltar area, two major platesβthe Eurasian and the Africanβcollide. The African plate is slowly creeping beneath the Eurasian one, a process known as subduction. In the past, this already led to major changes in the landscape and even the formation of new mountain ranges. Currently, the movement has slowed down but has not stopped completely.
Computer modeling shows that when the accumulated energy overcomes the resistance of the earth’s crust, plate movement will accelerate. As a result, the Strait of Gibraltar could disappear and the Mediterranean Sea could become an enclosed body of water, resembling a vast salt lake. Spain and Morocco would be connected by land, and the familiar map of Europe and Africa would change beyond recognition.
Regional consequences
While these changes are not expected anytime soon, their impact will be enormous. The disappearance of the strait would unite two continents, and the Mediterranean Sea would lose its link to the Atlantic. This would affect the climate, flora and fauna, as well as shipping routes and the economies of coastal nations.
Scientists point out that even now, despite apparent stability, the region remains seismically active. History has already seen devastating earthquakes and tsunamis, such as the famous 18th-century Lisbon earthquake. Similar events could happen again, as tectonic processes continue unabated.
The Future of the Mediterranean
Another striking conclusion: a new ‘Ring of Fire’ could emerge in the Atlanticβa zone of increased volcanic and seismic activity similar to the Pacific Ring of Fire. This would lead to the formation of new faults and possibly even new islands.
For now, Spain and Morocco continue to move closer at a rate of about one centimeter per year. This is hardly noticeable to humans, but in geological terms, it is an instant. Millions of years from now, the border between Europe and Africa could vanish entirely, and the familiar outlines of the continents may change forever.
