It forms part of a group of basins of similar age along the west coast of Norway between Sognefjord and Nordfjord, related to movement on the Nordfjord-Sogn Detachment.

During the later part of the Silurian period, the western margin of the Baltic Plate was affected by the main collisional event of the Caledonian orogeny, known as the Scandian phase.

At this point Mode II extension took over, with development of large extensional shear zones that cross-cut the Caledonian thrust pile, such as the Nordfjord-Sogn Detachment.

No clasts have been found that have evidence of high-pressure metamorphism indicating that the WGR did not become exposed at the surface until after the highest preserved levels of the basin were deposited.

The clasts do match well with the rock types observed within the Caledonian thrust sheets on which the Devonian sediments lie unconformably to the west of the basin.

The southern margin is formed by the steep north-dipping Haukå Fault, which is interpreted to increase in displacement westwards, locally cutting out the alluvial fan deposits, although it is still regarded as being close to the original basin edge.