The Great Rift Valley

The Great Rift Valley is a huge crack in Earth's crust. It stretches for thousands of miles through East Africa. It was made as two giant pieces of land slowly pulled apart. Many mountains, lakes, and volcanoes are found along the valley.

A Splitting Earth

The land in the Great Rift Valley is slowly splitting apart. This happens as tectonic plates move in opposite directions. Over millions of years, the valley will get wider. One day the valley might fill with ocean water.

A bumpy map shows the northern part of the Great Rift Valley.
A bumpy map shows the northern part of the Great Rift Valley. (Mikenorton / Wikimedia Commons)

Cradle of Humankind

Scientists have found very old human fossils in the Rift Valley. Some of these bones are millions of years old. This is why the area is sometimes called 'the cradle of humankind'. It shows us where early people once lived.

Fun Facts

  • Mount Kilimanjaro is near the Great Rift Valley.
  • Lake Victoria, one of the biggest lakes in the world, lies between two branches of the rift.
  • Flamingos gather in huge pink flocks on some rift valley lakes.

Did You Know?

The Great Rift Valley is so big that astronauts can see it from space.