Great Rift Valley

I am like a long, sunny hug on the Earth. I am a giant crack in the ground, like a big smile stretching across the sunny land of Africa. I have tall, pointy mountains and deep, quiet valleys where sleepy lions nap. My lakes sparkle like shiny blue jewels under the sun. I am so big and so long, you can even see me from way up high in space, like a ribbon on a present. I am the Great Rift Valley.

I started to form a very, very long time ago, when the ground beneath me gave a great big stretch and a yawn. This big stretch made me the long valley I am today. Because I am so old, I was one of the very first homes for the first people. I have kept their secrets safe for a long, long time. On November 24th, 1974, some smart people found the tiny bones of a very old ancestor here. They named her Lucy. Finding Lucy was like finding a piece of a puzzle that helps us learn about the story of people from the very beginning.

Today, I am a busy home for so many amazing animals. Tall giraffes munch on the leaves of my trees, using their long necks to reach the best snacks. Mighty elephants wander through my grassy plains, and pretty pink flamingos stand in my lakes like beautiful flowers. People from all over the world visit me to see the incredible animals and my beautiful views. I love being a place that shows everyone the wonders of nature. I am here to teach them about the amazing history of our world and all the people in it.