How is a rift valley formed? Give one example of a rift valley.

A rift valley is a lowland region that forms where Earth’s tectonic plates move apart or rift. Faulting due to divergence creates the rift system. Continental rifts are potential places where new oceans are expected to form.

Examples of rift valleys:

The East African Rift, the Baikal Rift Valley, the West Antarctic Rift, and the Rio Grande Rift are Earth’s major active continental rift valleys. The East African Rift is part of the “Great Rift Valley” system.

Further Reading:

• Major Landforms of the Earth
• Geomorphic Processes