Book 12, Question 63
Why Do Rift Valleys Form?
A rift valley forms where the ground is being pulled apart! The middle block drops down between two cracks, while the sides stay high. The result is a long valley with steep walls.
More fun facts
- A rift valley is low land where plates move apart.
- The crust breaks along faults, making long mountain ranges separated by rift valleys.
- Sand, mud, gravel and lava flows fill rift valleys as they form.
- Lakes can collect against a fault where one side of the valley drops faster.
- The East African Rift is a famous rift valley.
- The Rio Grande Rift and Basin and Range in the western United States formed by rifting too.
Sources: National Park Service, National Geographic
Questions kids ask
What does rift mean?
It means to split or move apart, like plates do at a rift valley.