GEOGRAPHY OF AFRICA - THE GREAT RIFT VALLEY

THE GREAT RIFT VALLEY WAS FORMED FROM THE DIVERGENT PLATE BOUNDARY BETWEEN THE AFRICAN PLATE AND THE ARABIAN PLATE SOME MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO

Great Rift Valley, is an intra-continental ridge system that runs through Kenya from north to south fault system of Southwest Asia and East Africa. The main section of the valley is in Africa which continues from the Red Sea Southwest across Ethiopia and South across Kenya, Tanzania, and Malawi to the lower Zambezi River valley in Mozambique.

The Great Rift Valley is also 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. It was formed on the "Kenyan Dome" a geographical upwelling created by the interactions of three major tectonics: The Arabian, Nubian, and Somalian plates. The climate is mild, with temperatures usually below 28 °C (82 °F). Most rain falls during the March–June and October–November periods. The Tugen Hills to the west of Lake Baringo contain fossils preserved in lava flows from the period 14 to 4 million years ago. The relics of many hominids, ancestors of humans, were found here.
The floor is broken by volcanoes, some still active, and contains a series of lakes. Some of the soils are Andisols, fertile soils from relatively recent volcanic activity. Hills are peaks in a ridge along the east of the Great Rift Valley, located southwest near Nairobi.

Many small lakes in Ethiopia and several long narrow lakes, notably lakes Turkana and Nyasa, lie on its course. Lake Victoria does not lie in the Great Rift Valley but between its main and western branches.

The Great Rift Valley ranges in elevation from 1,300 ft (395 m) below sea level (the Dead Sea) to 6,000 ft (1,830 m) above sea level in South Kenya. Erosion has concealed some sections, but in places, notably in Kenya, there are sheer cliffs several thousand feet high.

Many small lakes in Ethiopia and several long narrow lakes, notably lakes Turkana and Nyasa, lie on its course. Lake Victoria does not lie in the Great Rift Valley but between its main and western branches. The Great Rift Valley ranges in elevation from 1,300 ft (395 m) below sea level (the Dead Sea) to 6,000 ft (1,830 m) above sea level in South Kenya. Erosion has concealed some sections, but in places, notably in Kenya, there are sheer cliffs several thousand feet high.

IF YOU WANT TO EMBARK ON A TRIP, TRY THE GREAT RIFT VALLEY IN KENYA.

You can read more about the great rift valley on https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Rift_Valley