ramp valley

geology

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

A ramp valley is a geological landform characterized by steep sides and a flat floor, formed by crustal shortening rather than extension. Unlike rift valleys, where crustal blocks drop down, in ramp valleys, blocks of crust are thrust towards each other and over an intervening block. This downward force on the central block creates the valley, with the adjacent thrusting forming high mountains. While visually similar to rift valleys, ramp valleys are created by compressional forces. Notable examples include the Turfan Depression in China and remnants in New Zealand and the Rocky Mountains.1

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tectonic basins and rift valleys
Ramp valleys
As previously noted, these depressions are similar to rift valleys, but they have been formed by the opposite process—crustal shortening. A ramp valley develops when blocks of crust are thrust toward one another and up onto an intervening crustal block. The latter is…
Read More
As previously noted, these depressions are similar to rift valleys, but they have been formed by the opposite process—crustal shortening. A ramp valley develops when blocks of crust are thrust toward one another and up onto an intervening crustal block. The latter is…
Read More