Dead Sea Transform

The Dead Sea Transform (DST) fault system, also sometimes referred to as the Dead Sea Rift, is a geologic fault which runs from the Maras Triple Junction (a junction with the East Anatolian Fault (in southeastern Turkey)) to the northern end of the Red Sea Rift (just offshore of the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula). It runs along the boundary of two tectonic plates, the African Plate on the west and the Arabian Plate on the east. It is a left lateral transform fault, signifying the relative motions of the two plates. Both plates are moving in a general north-northeast direction, but the Arabian Plate is moving faster, resulting in the observed left lateral motions along the fault of approximately 107 km. A component of extension is also present, which has contributed to the depression, or pull apart basin in which the Dead Sea is situated.

Panorama of Jordan Valley

See also

• Beqaa Valley = the northern part of the DST
• Jordan Rift Valley = the southern part of the DST
• Great Rift Valley (geographical concept)
• 1138 Aleppo earthquake
• 1202 Syria earthquake

References

• The Geophysical Institute
• "The East Anatolian Fault: Structural pattern and relationship with the Dead Sea Transform", Emre, O. & Duman, T. Y., American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2007, abstract #T42B-01, publ.12/2004