riftdal
Riftdal is a term used in geomorphology and toponymy to describe a valley formed by the subsidence of Earth's crust along a tectonic rift. The name is constructed from roots meaning 'rift' and 'valley' in northern European languages, and it appears in several regional geographic names as well as in scientific literature to describe a class of landforms.
Formation and characteristics: Riftdal valleys are typically elongated, often tens to hundreds of kilometers long, with
Hydrology and ecology: Water drains toward the rift, with rivers often showing straight courses along the subsidence
Human geography and culture: Riftdal landscapes attract settlements, agriculture, and resource extraction where soil, water, and
See also: Rift valley, graben, fault-block mountains, tectonics.