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How are rift valleys different from glacial valleys?

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tectonic basins and rift valleys Escarpments of the Great Rift Valley rising above the plain north of Samburu Game Preserve, central Kenya. Beisa oryxes graze in the foreground.

Rift valleys and glacial valleys differ primarily in their origins and physical characteristics.

Origins
* Rift valleys are tectonic features formed by the subsidence of the Earth’s crust between normal faults. They occur in divergence zones where lithospheric plates are separating.12
* Glacial valleys are erosional landforms created by the movement of glaciers. They typically form when glaciers reshape pre-existing V-shaped stream valleys.34

Physical Characteristics
* Shape: Glacial valleys are characterized by a distinct U-shaped or parabolic cross section with steep, sometimes vertical, sidewalls. Rift valleys are elongated troughs that may have relatively flat floors—often due to sedimentation or volcanic deposition—and sides that drop away in steep steps or terraces.3412
* Features: Glacial valleys often feature hanging valleys, cirques, and deposits like till. Rift valleys may contain volcanoes, deep lakes, or horsts—blocks of crust that remain at higher elevations relative to the subsiding valley floor.3412