How was the Great Rift Valley formed, and what landforms are found in this region? Write a paragraph of at least 5 sentences.

1 answer

The Great Rift Valley was formed through a process known as rifting, which occurs when tectonic plates diverge or pull apart. This geological activity began around 25 million years ago in East Africa, resulting in the separation of the African Plate into the Somali and the Nubian plates. As these plates moved apart, they created a series of deep valleys, mountains, and volcanic landforms. The rifting process has led to the presence of numerous significant features, including the famous Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, both of which are stratovolcanoes. Additionally, the valley is dotted with various lakes, such as Lake Victoria and Lake Malawi, and showcases unique geological formations, including escarpments and faults, making it a region of immense geological and ecological diversity.