rift valley
noun
: an elongated valley formed by the depression of a block of the earth's crust between two faults or groups of faults of approximately parallel orientation
Examples of rift valley in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The rift valleys of East Africa are some of the largest and most spectacular topographic features on Earth.
—
David Bressan, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
There is a rift valley on the Rio Grande in the desert of New Mexico where an award-winning home sits.
—Jennifer Castenson, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
Valles Marineris is thought to be a rift valley, formed by uplift when hot material from the Mars's mantle bubbled up and stretched the planet's crust.
—Discover Magazine, 20 Oct. 2010
Rather than having a central volcano, the Reykjanes Peninsula is dominated by a rift valley with lava fields and cones.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024
Rather than having a central volcano, the Reykjanes Peninsula is dominated by a rift valley, with lava fields and cones.
—Catherine Nicholls, CNN, 2 Mar. 2024
Baringo is a county based within Kenya’s rift valley, which, according to Buret, experiences unnoticeable tectonic earth movement daily.
—Faustine Ngila, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2023
Fontana is a geothermal spa with a beautiful pool overlooking þingvallavatn, a rift valley lake in þingvellir National Park (which is also home to famous sites like the Gullfoss waterfall and Geysir geothermal area).
—Erika Owen, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2022
Rotorua draws tourists to its famous hot springs, but for visitors who prefer science to spas, the nearby volcanic rift valley Waimangu (www.waimangu.co.nz) is a must.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 25 Feb. 2014
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David Bressan, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
There is a rift valley on the Rio Grande in the desert of New Mexico where an award-winning home sits.
—Jennifer Castenson, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
Valles Marineris is thought to be a rift valley, formed by uplift when hot material from the Mars's mantle bubbled up and stretched the planet's crust.
—Discover Magazine, 20 Oct. 2010
Rather than having a central volcano, the Reykjanes Peninsula is dominated by a rift valley with lava fields and cones.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024
Rather than having a central volcano, the Reykjanes Peninsula is dominated by a rift valley, with lava fields and cones.
—Catherine Nicholls, CNN, 2 Mar. 2024
Baringo is a county based within Kenya’s rift valley, which, according to Buret, experiences unnoticeable tectonic earth movement daily.
—Faustine Ngila, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2023
Fontana is a geothermal spa with a beautiful pool overlooking þingvallavatn, a rift valley lake in þingvellir National Park (which is also home to famous sites like the Gullfoss waterfall and Geysir geothermal area).
—Erika Owen, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2022
Rotorua draws tourists to its famous hot springs, but for visitors who prefer science to spas, the nearby volcanic rift valley Waimangu (www.waimangu.co.nz) is a must.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 25 Feb. 2014
Cite this Entry
“Rift valley.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rift%20valley. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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