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A rift valley is a long, narrow depression formed when a block of the Earth’s crust subsides (drops down) between two diverging tectonic plates due to tensional forces.
It typically forms at divergent plate boundaries, especially within continental crust.
Tensional Forces:
Crust is stretched due to divergent tectonic movement.
Faulting:
The stretching causes the crust to fracture into normal faults.
A block of land between two faults drops down relative to the blocks on either side, forming a graben (the rift valley).
The uplifted sides are called horsts.
Volcanism & Earthquakes:
Magma may rise through fractures, creating volcanoes along the rift.
Earthquakes are common due to the ongoing crustal movement.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Graben | Sunken block of crust |
| Horsts | Raised blocks flanking the valley |
| Normal Faults | Dominant fault type; dip-slip faults |
| Volcanic Activity | Common due to crustal thinning |
| Earthquake Activity | High due to crustal stress |
| Rift Valley | Location |
|---|---|
| East African Rift | Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, etc. |
| Baikal Rift | Siberia, Russia |
| Rhine Rift Valley | Germany and France |
| Rio Grande Rift | New Mexico, USA |
| Red Sea Rift | Between Africa and Arabian Peninsula |
Sites of continental breakup (e.g. Africa splitting into two plates).
Rich in geothermal energy and minerals.
Often associated with lakes and fertile land due to sediment accumulation.
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