Earth's Scars: Exploring the World's Five Great Rift Systems

8. Rift Systems and Human History

Riff systems have been rather important in determining the direction of the evolution of our species and the types of human occupation throughout human existence. For millennia, the distinctive settings and resources connected with rift zones have drawn human populations, therefore impacting the growth of civilisations and the flow of people over continents. Particularly the East African Rift System has a unique position in human history. Often referred to as the "Cradle of Humankind," this area has produced several fossil finds that have been absolutely vital in our knowledge of human development. The varied settings of the rift could have been important in motivating the adaptations that resulted in the birth of our species. Millions of people still live in the rift valleys today; their rich soils, great abundance of species, and water supplies constitute the backbone of many local economies. Riff systems have similarly shaped human habitation and activity in different regions of the planet. For thousands of years, for example, human living in the American Southwest has centred around the Rio Grande Rift. For both ancient and modern societies, the river running across the rift valley has been a lifeline enabling urban growth and agriculture in an otherwise dry area. Likewise, humans have used the geothermal resources connected with rift systems—such those of Iceland along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge—for heat, energy, and recreation.