Rift lake

A rift lake is a lake formed as a result of subsidence related to movement on faults within a rift zone, an area of extensional tectonics in the continental crust.

Where rifts remain above sea level they form a rift valley, which may be filled by water forming a rift lake.

A rift lake is a lake formed as a result of subsidence related to movement on faults within a rift zone, an area of extensional tectonics in the continental crust.

Some of the well-known and largest lakes on Earth are rift lakes occupying rift valleys, e.g. Central African Rift lakes and Lake Baikal.

Lake Baikal, in Siberia

Lake Baikal (, Baigal nuur; Байгал нуур, Baigal nuur, etymologically meaning, in Mongolian, "the Nature Lake") is a rift lake in Russia, located in southern Siberia, between Irkutsk Oblast to the northwest and the Buryat Republic to the southeast.

Lake Hazar, in Turkey

Lake Hazar (Hazar Gölü, Ծովք լիճ, Covk‘ lič), is a rift lake in the Taurus Mountains, 22 km southeast of Elazig, notable as the source of the Tigris.

The Salton Sea, in Southern California

The Salton Sea is a shallow, saline, endorheic rift lake located directly on the San Andreas Fault, predominantly in the U.S. state of California's Imperial and Coachella valleys.

Lake Balaton, in Hungary

Lake Tanganyika, part of Albertine Rift

It is the largest rift lake in Africa and the second largest lake by volume in the world.

Lake Khuvsgul, northern Mongolia

Lake Vostok, in Antarctica, may have formed in a rift setting

A rift lake is a lake formed as a result of subsidence related to movement on faults within a rift zone, an area of extensional tectonics in the continental crust.

A rift lake is a lake formed as a result of subsidence related to movement on faults within a rift zone, an area of extensional tectonics in the continental crust.

A rift lake is a lake formed as a result of subsidence related to movement on faults within a rift zone, an area of extensional tectonics in the continental crust.

They are often found within rift valleys and may be very deep.

Rift lakes may be bounded by large steep cliffs along the fault margins.

Lake Baikal, in Siberia

Lake Balaton, in Hungary

The Dead Sea, on the border of Israel, Palestine and Jordan, a pull-apart basin, formed along the Dead Sea Transform.

The Dead Sea, on the border of Israel, Palestine and Jordan, a pull-apart basin, formed along the Dead Sea Transform.

The Dead Sea, on the border of Israel, Palestine and Jordan, a pull-apart basin, formed along the Dead Sea Transform.

The Dead Sea, on the border of Israel, Palestine and Jordan, a pull-apart basin, formed along the Dead Sea Transform.

The Dead Sea, on the border of Israel, Palestine and Jordan, a pull-apart basin, formed along the Dead Sea Transform.

The Dead Sea, on the border of Israel, Palestine and Jordan, a pull-apart basin, formed along the Dead Sea Transform.

Lake Elsinore, in the Elsinore Trough in Southern California

Lake Elsinore, in the Elsinore Trough in Southern California

The Salton Sea, in Southern California Lake Elsinore, in the Elsinore Trough in Southern California