Rift Valleys

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How are rift Valleys formed?

Continental divergence forms rift valleys. These valleys are formed when the lithosphere stretches, causing it to fracture. The land between these faults then collapse into deep, wide valleys which are separated by upright blocks of land called horsts.

Case Study: The Great African Rift Valley

There is a rift taking place on the eastern side of Africa as we speak. Nobody really knows the exact causes of the Great African Rift Valley, but it is widely accepted that it is a result of plumes of magma rising from the asthenosphere. This magma heats the overlying plates, causing them to expand and bulge to create horsts, such…

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