Great Rift Valley, Ethiopia

Known for its scenery and diverse wildlife in Ethiopia specifically the Rift Valley holds importance in the field of human evolution.

It is recognized as an area for researching the stages of human development with crucial fossil findings such, as Lucy (Australopithecus afarensis) unearthed within its bounds.

[3] The Ethiopian rift valley is about 80 kilometres (50 mi) wide and bordered on both margins by large, discontinuous normal faults that give rise to major tectonic escarpments separating the rift floor from the surrounding plateaus.

These faults are now thought to be inactive at the northern rift valley termination, whereas to the south they are still tectonically and seismically active.

In the northern part of the rift, extension within the valley is now thought to be mainly along these faulted and magmatically active segments.