How do tectonic valleys such as the Jordan River valley differ from valleys eroded by rivers?

Tectonic valleys, such as the Jordan Valley, are fundamentally different from valleys formed by rivers in their origin and structural development.

• Origin: Tectonic valleys, or rift valleys, are created by internal geological forces. They typically form when the Earth’s crust undergoes extension, causing a block of crust to subside or drop down between faults. In contrast, river valleys are produced by external denudational processes, specifically the erosional action of flowing water over time.123
• Structure: Tectonic valleys are often characterized by steep, mountainous sides and relatively flat floors, sometimes featuring steps or terraces created by faulting. While rivers may flow through these depressions, the valley itself is a structural feature—a graben—rather than a feature carved solely by the river's current.13
• Scale and Setting: Tectonic valleys can span hundreds of kilometers in length and are often associated with plate divergence zones, such as the East African Rift System. While rivers can create deep canyons through vertical entrenchment, these are distinct from the large-scale crustal subsidence that defines a tectonic rift.43