North America's 'broken heart': The billion-year-old scar from when the continent nearly ripped apart

The Midcontinent Rift is a giant tear that formed in what is now the U.S. Midwest 1.1 billion years ago. Nicknamed North America's "broken heart," it is filled with solidified magma and lava.

May 16, 2025 - 13:10
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North America's 'broken heart': The billion-year-old scar from when the continent nearly ripped apart
The Midcontinent Rift is a giant tear that formed in what is now the U.S. Midwest 1.1 billion years ago. Nicknamed North America's "broken heart," it is filled with solidified magma and lava.