Africa The Great Rift Valley

1. The Great Rift Valley, The Great Rift Valley,
AfricaAfrica
Matt BunkerMatt Bunker

2. Essential QuestionEssential Question
What makes the Great Rift What makes the Great Rift
Valley such a geographical Valley such a geographical
phenomenon? phenomenon?

3. What is It?What is It?
The Great Rift The Great Rift
Valley is a deep Valley is a deep
trench that runs trench that runs
through vertically through vertically
through Africa, through Africa,
ranging in width ranging in width
and elevation.and elevation.

4. What I KnewWhat I Knew
I already knew that the Great Rift I already knew that the Great Rift
Valley is located in Eastern Africa. I Valley is located in Eastern Africa. I
also knew that a rift is a break in the also knew that a rift is a break in the
Earth’s surface that makes a deep Earth’s surface that makes a deep
trench, made by a force called plate trench, made by a force called plate
tectonics. I knew that Mount tectonics. I knew that Mount
Kilimanjaro is on the edge of the Kilimanjaro is on the edge of the
great Rift Valley too. great Rift Valley too.

5. Why I Chose this Topic Why I Chose this Topic
The force that created the Great The force that created the Great
Rift Valley was taught to us in Rift Valley was taught to us in
Science class. That made this Science class. That made this
topic sort of stand out to me topic sort of stand out to me
because I already had some because I already had some
background knowledge, but I background knowledge, but I
wanted to know more about it.wanted to know more about it.

6. FormationFormation
The Great Rift Valley was formed The Great Rift Valley was formed
about 35 million years ago when the about 35 million years ago when the
Earth’s plates split apart, forming a Earth’s plates split apart, forming a
rift in the Earth’s crust. As the plates rift in the Earth’s crust. As the plates
continue to drift apart, the Great Rift continue to drift apart, the Great Rift
Valley keeps changing and pulling.Valley keeps changing and pulling.

7. SizeSize
The Great Rift Valley is The Great Rift Valley is
approximately 3,600 miles in length, approximately 3,600 miles in length,
making it the longest fault system in making it the longest fault system in
the worldthe world
It ranges from 19 to 63 miles wideIt ranges from 19 to 63 miles wide
Elevation ranges from 1,300 below Elevation ranges from 1,300 below
sea level (at the Dead Sea) to 6,000 sea level (at the Dead Sea) to 6,000
feet above sea level (at Southern feet above sea level (at Southern
Kenya)Kenya)

8. Landforms Landforms
Mountains, like Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Mountains, like Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount
Kenya, and Mount Margherita, are located Kenya, and Mount Margherita, are located
on the edge of the Great Rift Valley.on the edge of the Great Rift Valley.
Most major lakes of Africa are located near Most major lakes of Africa are located near
the Great Rift Valley, like Lake Turkana the Great Rift Valley, like Lake Turkana
and Lake Nyssaand Lake Nyssa
About 20 volcanoes are on the Great Rift About 20 volcanoes are on the Great Rift
Valley’s southern edgeValley’s southern edge

9. FutureFuture
If the Great Rift If the Great Rift
Valley continues Valley continues
to grow the way to grow the way
it is, it could be it is, it could be
flooded by flooded by
water, which water, which
would form a would form a
new gulf or a new gulf or a
new sea.new sea.

10. Interesting InformationInteresting Information
What I think is the most surprising What I think is the most surprising
fact was that in the future the Great fact was that in the future the Great
Rift Valley could become a new body Rift Valley could become a new body
of water. I was also surprised that of water. I was also surprised that
The Great Rift Valley is the longest The Great Rift Valley is the longest
fault system in the world.fault system in the world.

11. QuestionsQuestions
How long will it take the Great Rift How long will it take the Great Rift
Valley to fill with water when it Valley to fill with water when it
happens?happens?
If the Great Rift Valley is filled by If the Great Rift Valley is filled by
water an turns into a gulf or sea, water an turns into a gulf or sea,
how will this effect the life around it?how will this effect the life around it?

12. WebsitesWebsites
1. http://www.travour.com/tour-to-kenya/tourist-1. http://www.travour.com/tour-to-kenya/tourist-
attractions-in-kenya/great-african-rift-valley.htmlattractions-in-kenya/great-african-rift-valley.html
2. 2.
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/rift/rvwhatisriftvalley.hthttp://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/rift/rvwhatisriftvalley.ht
mlml
3. http://geography.howstuffworks.com/africa/the-great-3. http://geography.howstuffworks.com/africa/the-great-
rift-valley.htmrift-valley.htm
4. 4.
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761568078/great_rifhttp://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761568078/great_rif
t_valley.htmlt_valley.html
5.5. http://www.scienceclarified.com/A-Al/Africa.htmlhttp://www.scienceclarified.com/A-Al/Africa.html
6. 6.
https://courses.washington.edu/tesc2fwdas43/rift_valley/Mhttps://courses.washington.edu/tesc2fwdas43/rift_valley/M
ain_Page.shtmlain_Page.shtml
7. http://www.platetectonics.com/oceanfloors/somali.asp7. http://www.platetectonics.com/oceanfloors/somali.asp
8. Textbook8. Textbook