Africa's Great Rift Valley

Covering evolution, indigenous cultures, and European exploration, Pavitt's text and stunning photographs make this the finest volume on the Valley ever published, and an exciting addition to Abrams' list of best-selling books about Africa.

200 photographs in full color, 208 pages, 9 5/8 x 11 1/4"

The Grerat Rift Valley spans over 3,400 miles and incorporates land from Ethiopia in the north to Mozambique in the south. Elevation range fron 500 feet below sea level to mountains over 16,000 feet. This part of Africa is presumed to be where mankind started and evolved, from the discovery by the Leakeys, Louis and Mary, Richard and Meave who found the oldest partial skeleton of mankinds ancesters. The fauna are noteable as well and includes chimpanzees, bonobos, and gorillas and there is the greatest concentration of grassland animals found on Earth.

The pictures are spectacular and they tell a fantastic story of the geological evolution of this area from salt brines to volcanic activity to some of the most spectacular vistas on Earth. This book is well-written and tells an engaging story of one of the most interesting features on planet Earth. Few books about places in the world contain what this book does you'll find it well worth the money for information about geological and evolutionary history, not to mention exploration and conquest, but most importantly there are stories of the peoples living close to nature that are very engrossing.

You'll go back and reread parts of this book as I have to view and understand what Dr. David Livingstone and Henry Morton Stanley found so captivating as they traveled the lenght and breadth of the Rift Valley.