How did faulting form the Ruwenzori Range?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

The Ruwenzori Range is unique among East African mountains because it is not of volcanic origin; rather, it is a massive horst formed by tectonic activity.12

The range was created when an ancient plateau surface composed of gneisses and schists underwent significant structural deformation: it was upfaulted on its western side and upwarped on its eastern side. This process of faulting and uplift elevated the range, and tectonic movements along these faults remain active today, making the Ruwenzori system a notable earthquake epicenter.2