Earth is preparing a surprise: one of the continents may collide with Eurasia

Australia is considered the fastest moving continent on the planet. Each year it shifts northward by approximately 7 centimeters. This is explained by its location on the Indo-Australian tectonic plate. For comparison, other continents move on average only 1.5 cm per year.

As reported by IFLScience, if this process continues, Australia may collide with the Eurasian plate in millions of years.

Such movements are not uncommon in Earth's history. Previously, Australia's territory was already part of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana.

The movement of tectonic plates occurs constantly, although it is imperceptible in everyday life. Nevertheless, its consequences are significant: mountains form, earthquakes occur, the outlines of continents change, and even problems arise in modern technologies.

For instance, due to Australia's shift, GPS coordinates began to differ significantly from the actual position of objects. In 2017, authorities decided to officially adjust the continent's coordinates, moving it 1.8 meters to the northeast to synchronize navigation system data.

Although the formation of a new supercontinent is a matter of the distant future, Australia's movement already affects science, technology, and our understanding of the processes occurring on our planet.