It forms the transform type tectonic boundary between the Anatolian sub-plate and the northward-moving Arabian plate.

[2][3] The East Anatolian Fault runs in a northeasterly direction, starting from the Maraş triple junction at the northern end of the Dead Sea Transform, and ending at the Karlıova triple junction where it meets the North Anatolian Fault.

In their findings, based on geomorphology, they described a fault extending over 70 km (43 mi) southwest from Karlıova to Bingöl.

Ground cracks associated with the earthquake exhibited a dominant left-lateral component that aligned with the trend of valleys associated with the fault.

This discovery supported the theory of a mainly left-lateral mechanism for the East Anatolian Fault.

[6] The northeast–southwest trending main strand runs for 580 km (360 mi) from Karlıova in the north to Antakya in the south.

[7] The Karlıova segment represents the northeasternmost trace of the East Anatolian Fault and extends 25 km (16 mi) from the triple junction to Göynük.

[8] Its morphology is charactierized by young scarps; streams offset from several to hundreds of meters; pressure ridges; linear valleys and hot springs.

A 3.5 m (11 ft) offset located 1 km (0.62 mi) southeast of Boncukgöze could be associated with the 1866 Bingöl earthquake (Mw  7.1) surface rupture.

[7] This segment runs through mountainous terrain from the Göynük restraining bend to Ilıca along a single branch.

The 1971 Bingöl earthquake (Ms  6.8) produced 35 km (22 mi) of surface faulting on this segment, but did not extend beyond northeast of Göynük.

[7] The area where the Pütürge segment runs through is mountainous and characterized by Paleozoic-Mesozoic metamorphic and Mesozoic ophiolite mélange and clastic rocks.

Stream channels crossing the fault were observed to have been offset by several meters to 0.5 km (0.31 mi).

The northern part of the Erkenek segment produced 10 km (6.2 mi) of surface rupture during the Mw  7.8 earthquake of 2023.

About 4 km (2.5 mi) southeast of Elmalar, 5 ± 0.2 m (16.40 ± 0.66 ft) of offset was reported along a stream, possibly associated with an earthquake in 1513.

The westernmost length consists two parallel fault strands which eventually integrate at Nurhak.

[7] The Çardak segment between Nurhak and Göksun is 85 km (53 mi) in length and separated into two sections by a right stepover.

The southern half measures 41 km (25 mi) long and exhibits Holocene fault scarps along some portions.

[7] The Yakapınar segment runs from the mountainous area in the north to south in the Ceyhan plain.

[18] In 1866, a Ms  7.2 earthquake ruptured a segment of the fault that meets the Karlıova triple junction.