Continental Rift: Topography, Earthquakes and Volcanism

The Basin and Range topography develops over a few million years as fault lines move gradually, or more abruptly during tens of thousands of earthquakes. The colder upper crust cracks and breaks along faults (like peanut brittle), causing earthquakes and forming long mountains (ranges) separated by valleys (basins). Magma reaching the surface erupts from volcanoes and fissures as lava flows and other volcanic materials, mingling with river and lake sediments to fill rift valleys. Ripping a tectonic plate apart elevates the region and causes earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and the formation of long mountain ranges separated by broad valleys (basins).