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How quickly are Africa and Arabia continuing to move apart?
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Red Sea
Map showing the Red Sea and the countries surrounding it. The Red Sea is one of the most heavily traveled waterways in the world. It is about 1,200 miles (1,930 km) long, and its maximum width is about 190 miles (305 km).
The African and Arabian plates are continuing to move apart at a rate estimated to be between 0.59 and 0.62 inches (15.0 to 15.7 mm) per year. This ongoing divergence is part of a complex rift system that includes the East African Rift System and is evidenced by recent seismic activity, volcanic events, and the presence of hot brines within the Red Sea trough.1