Gulf of California Rift Zone

In this article, we will address Gulf of California Rift Zone from a comprehensive and detailed perspective, in order to provide our readers with a complete and enriching vision on this topic. Along these lines, we will explore different facets, studies and opinions related to Gulf of California Rift Zone, with the aim of offering a global and updated analysis. From its origin to its current evolution, through its impact on society and its relevance in different areas, this article seeks to be an enriching source of knowledge for all those interested in entering the world of Gulf of California Rift Zone.

The Gulf of California Rift Zone (GCRZ) is the northernmost extension of the East Pacific Rise which extends some 1,300 km (800 mi) from the mouth of the Gulf of California to the southern terminus of the San Andreas Fault at the Salton Sink.

The GCRZ is an incipient rift zone akin to the Red Sea Rift. In the GCRZ continental crust originally associated with the North American Plate has been pulled apart by tectonic forces and is being replaced by newly formed oceanic crust and seafloor spreading. The rifting has resulted in the transfer of the Baja California Peninsula to the Pacific Plate.

List of GCRZ transform faults

From north to south:

List of GCRZ rift basins

From north to south:

References