Rift Valley
African geological depression
The Rift Valley is a massive geological trench running through East Africa from Ethiopia to Mozambique, formed by tectonic plates pulling apart over millions of years.
It contains some of the deepest lakes in the world and is considered the cradle of human evolution, where many early hominid fossils have been discovered: Archaeological digs in the Rift Valley have reshaped our understanding of human origins. (Lowercase rift valley is the general geological term.)
Organized exploratory journey
- safariWildlife observation journey
- fieldworkResearch conducted on location
- surveyingMeasuring and charting terrain
- mappingDiagram of correspondences
discovery · trekking · paleoanthropology · fossil sites · archaeological dig · geological survey · research station · explorers
Steep slope dividing elevations
- plateauFlat highland area
- basinConcave water receptacle
- gorgeDeep, narrow valley
- canyonDeep river-cut gorge
savanna · grassland · steppe · highland · lowland · lake · soda lake · floodplain
Life found nowhere else
- flamingoPink wading bird
- wildebeestLarge African grazing antelope
- zebraStriped African horse relative
- hippoSemi-aquatic African mammal
crocodile · acacia · baobab · migratory birds · biodiversity · conservation · cichlid · tilapia
expedition
Organized exploratory journey
- safariWildlife observation journey
- fieldworkResearch conducted on location
- surveyingMeasuring and charting terrain
mapping · discovery · trekking · paleoanthropology · fossil sites · archaeological dig · geological survey · research station · explorers · remote sensing
escarpment
Steep slope dividing elevations
canyon · savanna · grassland · steppe · highland · lowland · lake · soda lake · floodplain · delta
endemic species
Life found nowhere else
- flamingoPink wading bird
- wildebeestLarge African grazing antelope
- zebraStriped African horse relative
hippo · crocodile · acacia · baobab · migratory birds · biodiversity · conservation · cichlid · tilapia · wildlife corridor
- African Safarielephant, elephants, lions, zebras, zebra
- African LandformsMount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, Atlas Mountains, Table Mountain, Kilimanjaro
- African mapsNorth Africa, East Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, sub-Saharan
- African regionsWest Africa, North Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, Central Africa
- East AfricaKenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi
- Great Lakes AfricaLake Victoria, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania
Rift Valleymountain range
Series of connected peaks
Himalayas · collision zone · Alps · Andes · subduction zone
Rift Valleyriver canyon
Valley carved by water
gorge · river valley · glacial valley · Grand Canyon · fjord