The stretching and thinning of continental crust as tectonic forces pull it apart, producing a linear depression, or rift valley, that can eventually widen into a new ocean basin if extension continues long enough. The East African Rift, actively splitting the African continent today, is the world's clearest example in progress.
Facts
Process Type Connections
Shaped
The Danakil Depression is a geological depression formed by rifting.
Source Danakil Depression (Wikipedia)
Source African Great Lakes (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Rift, Wikipedia
Opening definitionQuote, Opening definition
A rift is a linear zone where the lithosphere is being pulled apart and is an example of extensional tectonics.
Danakil Depression (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationShaped: Danakil Depression, Lead sectionQuote, Shaped: Danakil Depression, Lead section
The Danakil Depression is a geological depression formed by rifting.
African Great Lakes (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationShaped: The African Great Lakes Region, Geology/formation-of-the-lakes sectionQuote, Shaped: The African Great Lakes Region, Geology/formation-of-the-lakes section
This rift began when East Africa, impelled by currents in the mantle, began separating from the rest of Africa, moving to the northeast.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.