7 MYA: The Global Cooling Begins

Around 7 million years ago, the Earth began to cool—not suddenly, but steadily,
like a long sigh across oceans and continents.

7.5 MYA: The Rift Valley Forms: Earth Tears Itself Open

What was once a continuous forest now faced a fracture line, deepening into valleys, rising into ridges, and birthing volcanoes that kissed the clouds.