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  • Overview
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THE GREAT RIFT VALLEY

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The most famous rift valley in the world
  • Stretches from the Middle East in the North to Mozambique in the South
  • Geologically active with volcanoes, earthquakes, hot springs and geysers
  • The birthplace of humankind

The Great Rift Valley is part of an intra-continental ridge system that runs through Kenya from north to south. It is 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 valley contains the Cherangani Hills and a chain of volcanoes, some of which are still active. 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, have been found here

The valley is bordered by escarpments to the east and west. The floor is broken by volcanoes, some still active, and contains a series of lakes.

Kenya is home to 64 (9.50%) of the total lakes found within the continent of Africa. Eight of these make up the main lakes in the Kenyan Rift Valley. From north to south, the names of these lakes are Lake Turkana, Lake Logipi, Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru, Lake Elmenteita, Lake Naivasha, and Lake Magadi.

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Email:info@luxuryafrica.co.za

Southern Africa Office:11 Christiaan Road, Penzance, Hout Bay,
Cape Town, 7806, South Africa
Tel:+27-21-180-4010

East Africa Office:P.O. Box 388, Nanyuki,
10400, Kenya
Tel:+254-71-110-4716

USA Office:309 Inverness Drive, La Canada, California,
91011, United States of America
Tel:+1-727-498-4642

© 2017 Luxury Africa Safaris - Developed by: PsWebb
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