Understanding What a Rift Valley Is
A rift valley is a long, low area formed when Earth’s crust stretches and breaks apart. As the land splits, large blocks drop downward, creating a valley.
How Rift Valleys Form
Rift valleys appear at divergent boundaries where tectonic plates move away from each other. The crust becomes thinner, cracks form, and sections sink.
Features of a Rift Valley
They often have steep cliffs, flat valley floors, volcanic activity, and long linear shapes that follow the direction of the rifting.
Famous Rift Valleys
East African Rift: One of the largest, stretching thousands of kilometers.
Rio Grande Rift (USA): Runs through New Mexico and Colorado.
Baikal Rift (Russia): Holds Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake.
Why Rift Valleys Matter
They create lakes, volcanoes, new ecosystems, and eventually may become new ocean basins if the rifting continues for millions of years.
What Happens Inside a Rift Valley
Volcanoes, earthquakes, and hot springs are common. Stretching crust lets magma rise, shaping the valley over time.
The Simple Takeaway
A rift valley is a long depression formed when Earth’s crust pulls apart. These dramatic landscapes reveal how continents split and evolve.