Where is the Rift Valley in Kenya?

Where is the Rift Valley in Kenya?

The Great Rift Valley is part of an intra-continental ridge system that runs through Kenya from north to south. It is part of the Gregory Rift, the eastern branch of the East African Rift, which starts in Tanzania to the south and continues northward into Ethiopia.

Why is the Great Rift Valley important to Kenya?

The system of rift valleys that characterizes the African continent represents a perfect environment to understand the evolution of mankind; for the important paleoanthropological discoveries in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zaire, the African rift valleys are indeed considered the "cradle of mankind", that is ...

How did the Rift Valley form in Kenya?

One of its most dramatic sections slices through East Africa, dividing Kenya into two segments. Geologists know that the Rift Valley was formed by violent subterranean forces that tore apart the earth's crust. ... Evidence of volcanic activity along the rift is provided by the presence of numerous boiling hot springs.

Where does Rift Valley start and end in Kenya?

It is the longest rift on the surface of the earth. The Rift Valley starts all the way from Jordan, Middle-East, and runs through Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Congo, Malawi, and ends near the coastal town of Solada in Mozambique.

How far is Rift Valley from Nairobi?

699 km How far is it from Nairobi to Great Rift Valley? It is 699 km from Nairobi to Great Rift Valley. It is approximately 1074.2 km to drive.

How old is the Great Rift Valley?

30 million years The rift has been forming for some 30 million years (as Africa and the Arabian Peninsula separated) and has been accompanied by extensive volcanism along parts of its length, producing such massifs as Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya.

What are the advantages of a rift valley?

Fertile soils from sediment deposited by running water. Alluvial deposits from which can be found precious minerals such as gold. Can provide tourist attractions.

Is the rift valley widening?

In the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the North American plate and the Eurasian plate are splitting apart at a rate of about 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) per year. Over millions of years, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge has formed rift valleys as wide as 15 kilometers (9 miles).

How old is the Great rift valley?

30 million years The rift has been forming for some 30 million years (as Africa and the Arabian Peninsula separated) and has been accompanied by extensive volcanism along parts of its length, producing such massifs as Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya.

What will happen if a rift valley continues to pull apart?

If these two rift zones continue they will break apart the crustal plates they are located on and will create new plates. Sea water will flood the rift valleys and they will eventually become seas like the Red Sea.

How many lakes are in Kenya?

• Lakes of Kenya. Kenya has a large number of lakes, mainly formed by the Great Rift. There are many beautiful lakes, some filled with freshwater and some with saltwater. We would like to tell a bit more about the more known lakes like Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria, Lake Victoria and Lake Turkana.

What is the definition of Rift Valley?

• Rift valley. A rift valley is a linear-shaped lowland between several highlands or mountain ranges created by the action of a geologic rift or fault. This action is manifest as crustal extension, a spreading apart of the surface, which is subsequently further deepened by the forces of erosion.

What is a rift valley?

• Size And Location Of Rift Valleys. Rift Valleys are typically long and narrow,stretching for hundreds of miles. ...
• Earth’s Rift Valleys. Earth’s most extensive rift valley occurs as a result of seafloor spreading,and is situated along the mid-ocean ridge system’s crest.
• Examples Of Continental Rift Valleys. ...
• Rift Valley Lakes. ...

What fault is East African Rift Valley?

• East African Rift Valley, Kenya. The East African rift system is marked by substantial volcanic activity, including lavas erupted from fissures along the rift in the region. Much of the faulting observed in this image cuts through such lavas. Elsewhere along the rift system, individual volcanoes form.