The Mediterranean Sea could disappear

As the Earth's two major tectonic plates collide, it is likely that the Mediterranean Sea will be wiped off the map in the future.

The continents on Earth are in a constant, albeit very slow, state of change. The Earth's crust is divided into tectonic plates that move above the semi-fluid upper mantle, leading to gradual rearrangements of the continents and the formation of diverse geological features over many ages. The current arrangement of continents such as Africa, Eurasia, America. is only temporary. Continental configurations have changed significantly in the past and will continue to evolve in the future depending on the movements of the tectonic plates , according to IFL Science .

The Mediterranean Sea is a hotbed of geological activity. (Photo: World Atlas).

The major threat to the Mediterranean Sea is the slow collision of the African (Nubian) Plate with the Eurasian Plate. Beginning about 100 million years ago, the two plates began to converge, gradually closing off the ocean basins between them. The European Alps themselves are a result of that collision.

Geological changes occur over millions of years, so the rate of movement is only a few millimeters a year. However, the Mediterranean Sea could be sandwiched between two tectonic plates as the new supercontinent forms . Europe would slide under the African plate and the sea would cease to exist.

This is just one possible prediction of how the Earth's tectonic plates will move. Predicting the configuration of a future supercontinent is difficult due to the complex and dynamic nature of plate tectonics, as well as the timescales involved. However, historical data suggest that the Mediterranean Sea is in an unstable position. About 5.97 million years ago, an event called the Messinian salinity crisis occurred, turning the Mediterranean into a vast salt basin for half a million years.

Sea level fluctuations have prevented the Atlantic Ocean from flowing into the Mediterranean through the Strait of Gibraltar, disrupting vital water supplies. The Mediterranean is particularly vulnerable to change because it is located in a relatively warm and dry region where seawater evaporates rapidly.