continental rift
nounUK /ˌkɒntɪˈnentl rɪft/
US /ˌkɑːntɪˈnentl rɪft/
A long crack in the Earth's crust where a continent is slowly splitting apart.
The East African Rift is a famous continental rift where the land is pulling apart.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A place where two parts of a continent are moving away from each other.
Scientists study the continental rift to learn how new oceans form.
3. A deep valley formed when the ground stretches and breaks.
The continental rift created a long, low valley between the hills.
4. A zone of weakness in the land where magma can rise.
Volcanoes often appear along a continental rift.