A rift valley, such as the East African Rift, is a major landform characterized by steep parallel sides and a dropped floor. What type of tectonic plate movement causes the crust to stretch and subside, resulting in the formation of a rift valley?

💡 Explanation:

Rift valleys are created at divergent boundaries where tectonic plates are moving away from each other (extending), causing the crust to thin and fracture. The central block of land then drops down relative to the blocks on either side, forming the valley.